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Waymo can now provide fully driverless rides in San Francisco
Summary
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has granted the Alphabet-owned Waymo a permit to participate in its driverless pilot program, which lets autonomous vehicle (AV) companies transport passengers in test AVs without anyone at the wheel. Waymo still isn’t allowed to charge for these rides, though. The state of California requires companies to obtain a series of incremental permits from both the CPUC and the Department of Motor Vehicles before they’re able to charge for driverless rides. Waymo just needs to secure the driverless deployment permit from the CPUC to fully launch its robotaxi service, as it already received clearance from the DMV to charge for driverless rides earlier this week.
Q&As
What permit does Waymo still need to obtain in order to start charging passengers?
The permit that Waymo still needs to obtain in order to start charging passengers is the driverless deployment permit from the CPUC.
How many permits are required in total before a company is able to charge passengers for driverless rides?
The total number of permits required before a company is able to charge passengers for driverless rides is two. The first permit is from the CPUC and the second is from the DMV.
What is the name of the program that allows autonomous vehicle companies to transport passengers in test AVs without anyone at the wheel?
The name of the program that allows autonomous vehicle companies to transport passengers in test AVs without anyone at the wheel is the driverless pilot program.
When did Waymo start charging for rides with a human safety driver present?
Waymo started charging for rides with a human safety driver present in March.
What is the second AV company to join California's driverless pilot program?
The second AV company to join California's driverless pilot program is Cruise.
AI Comments
👍 This is amazing news! I'm so excited for Waymo to launch its driverless taxi service in San Francisco. I think it's going to revolutionize transportation in the city.
👎 I'm not sure I'm comfortable with the idea of driverless cars picking me up and dropping me off. I'm also worried about what will happen if there's an accident.
AI Discussion
Me: It's about Waymo getting permission to provide driverless rides in San Francisco.
Friend: That's interesting. I wonder how well their driverless cars will do in San Francisco traffic.
Me: Yeah, I'm curious about that too. I also wonder if people will be willing to take driverless cars.
Friend: I don't know. I would be a little hesitant to get in a car with no driver.
Action items
- Follow Waymo on social media to stay up-to-date on the launch of their driverless rides in San Francisco.
- If you live in the San Francisco area, sign up to be a Waymo beta tester.
- Learn more about autonomous vehicles and the technology behind them.
Technical terms
- Autonomous vehicle (AV)
- A vehicle that is capable of sensing its environment and navigating without human input.
- Public utilities commission (CPUC)
- A state agency that regulates the rates and services of public utilities, such as electric, gas, and water companies.
- Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)
- A state agency that issues driver's licenses and registration for vehicles.
- Robotaxi
- A taxi service that uses autonomous vehicles.
- Poor weather conditions
- Conditions that make it difficult to drive, such as rain, snow, or fog.