Waymo, the autonomous driving arm of Google’s parent company Alphabet, has announced that its driverless ride-hailing service is now available to anyone in San Francisco without the need for a waitlist. To access the service, users simply need to download the Waymo One app and enter their destination. Waymo has been operating in San Francisco since 2009 and introduced fully autonomous rides in late 2022. The company’s Waymo One service is also open to the public in metro Phoenix and select members of the public in Los Angeles. Additionally, Waymo is currently conducting testing in Austin, with plans to open up to riders later this year. The company uses the all-electric Jaguar I-Pace for its service.
With Waymo’s expansion, it aims to provide a safe and comfortable experience for riders. Despite the initial disorientation of seeing an empty driver’s seat while the steering wheel turns by itself, many riders have reported feeling secure and comfortable during their journeys. The use of Google Assistant to control the car’s audio adds to the convenience and enjoyment of the ride. Waymo’s ride-hailing service is available 24/7 in San Francisco, and nearly 300,000 people have signed up to ride with Waymo since it opened a waitlist in the city. The cost of a ride varies depending on the time of day and location, but it is comparable to popular ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft.
In Phoenix, Waymo’s fully autonomous service has been available to the public without a waitlist since 2020. The service operates 24/7 and has also been testing autonomous rides on freeways in the area. Waymo showcased its vehicles navigating on- and off-ramps and changing lanes without a driver behind the wheel in an exclusive video shared with CNET.
However, Waymo’s rollout has not been without concerns. The company’s vehicles have been involved in a few high-profile collisions, including accidents with a cyclist in San Francisco and a towed pickup truck in Phoenix. Waymo addressed these issues by recalling and updating its software. Despite these incidents, Waymo claims that its autonomous Waymo Driver is significantly better than human drivers in avoiding crashes that cause injuries and police-reported crashes.
Waymo’s rival, Cruise, has also faced safety concerns, leading to its indefinite suspension in California after one of its driverless cars hit a pedestrian. However, Cruise has recently resumed operating manual and supervised rides in Dallas and Houston as part of its effort to validate its self-driving technology against rigorous safety and performance standards.
Overall, autonomous ride-hailing services like Waymo are continuously improving their technology and safety measures to provide a reliable and efficient transportation option for the public. As the industry progresses, it will be interesting to see how these companies address safety concerns and enhance the overall passenger experience.
