Allowing robot taxis in principle and lifting truck restrictions makes California a hub for autonomous driving?
After a controversial vote of the state authority Alphabet Waymo and General Motors’ Cruise transport paying passengers around the clock in San Francisco, thereby consolidating the technology hub as the center of the autonomous vehicle industry. The US media largely agrees that this marks a significant advance for this emerging technology.
The California Public Utilities Commission sided with the companies on Thursday, despite strong opposition from some residents and city officials. The commissioners heard public comments for over six hours from residents and stakeholders who either supported or opposed the measure to expand paid autonomous driving.
Traffic and safety authorities like that police and fire brigade and many residents had opposed the expansion of the paid Robotaxi service over concerns about erratic driving and disruption to their operations. The authorities, which have no regulatory authority, lobbied vehemently for a more cautious introduction of the experimental vehicles.
Supporters of the expansion included technologists and local residents, who said the cars would provide a safer alternative to human drivers and provide an important boost to San Francisco’s economy. The companies are now permitted to offer 24-hour paid taxi service across the city and have said they will be using more cars. Together they already have more than 500 autonomous vehicles in use.
Cruise and Waymo have previously offered experimental services at specific times and in specific geographic areas in San Francisco. Both did not say on Thursday how soon they might move to offering a 24-hour taxi service, promising to do so soon.
The decision is respected worldwide. Many US media consider San Francisco to be both the symbolic hub of the technology and the largest test lab for autonomous driving. So far had mainly Texas many branches have recruited members because the obligations here have been reduced.
The previous providers Waymo and Cruise refer to the many kilometers that could be done without life-threatening injuries or deaths. In addition, blind people are finally able to take part in private transport. However, the critical voices do not want to be a testing ground and fear that these accidents will still happen.