Waymo, the autonomous vehicle company owned by Google’s parent company, is set to begin testing its self-driving cars on Arizona highways. This marks a significant expansion from its previous testing on local routes and opens up new possibilities for self-driving technology.
The company has been conducting tests with a human passenger behind the wheel on Phoenix highways for years. However, this month, Waymo plans to remove the human driver altogether and have the vehicles navigate the high-speed routes on their own.
The decision to venture onto highways comes at a time when autonomous vehicles are under increased scrutiny. A competitor to Waymo, Cruise, recently suspended its robotaxi operations after an incident in which one of its vehicles dragged a woman in San Francisco. The CEO of Cruise resigned soon after.
While Waymo has been lauded for having advanced autonomous technology, it is not without its own challenges. There have been instances where Waymo vehicles have caused disruptions on the road, such as stopping suddenly in the middle of a street or making unsafe turns.
One advantage Waymo has in Arizona is the state’s comprehensive laws pertaining to autonomous vehicles. Unlike California, where self-driving cars cannot receive traffic tickets, Waymo will be held responsible for any traffic violations its vehicles may commit.
The company plans to gradually roll out its highway testing, starting with Waymo employees being able to hail rider-only trips on freeways in Phoenix. Eventually, Waymo One riders will also have the opportunity to travel autonomously on highways. The long-term goal is to offer robotaxis that can efficiently transport passengers to the main airport in Phoenix, Sky Harbor.
As self-driving technology continues to evolve and gain acceptance, Waymo’s testing expansion on Arizona highways represents a significant step forward in the advancement of autonomous vehicles.
The source of the article is from the blog smartphonemagazine.nl