Waymo, the autonomous driving technology company, has received approval from California regulators to expand its self-driving robotaxis operations in select areas of Los Angeles and the Bay Area. The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) greenlit Waymo’s expansion plans, allowing its vehicles to navigate local roads and highways at speeds of up to 65mph in authorized zones. Despite this advancement, Waymo asserts that it will proceed with caution, emphasizing a careful and incremental approach to its expansion and clarifying that there are no immediate plans to extend service to highways.
This decision comes after a temporary halt on Waymo’s expansion last month, prompted by concerns raised by various San Francisco city agencies and advocacy groups regarding the safety of driverless vehicles. Recent incidents, including a Waymo car colliding with a bicyclist and a Cruise vehicle striking and dragging a pedestrian, have heightened scrutiny over autonomous vehicle safety.
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