Current location:Global Guide news portal > opinions
Waymo's robotaxi service expands into Los Angeles, starting free rides in parts of the city
Global Guide news portal2024-05-07 22:14:08【opinions】7People have gathered around
IntroductionWayMo's driverless taxi service expands to streets of LA 01:41
Robotaxis will begin cruising the streets of Los Angeles on Thursday when Google spinoff Waymo starts offering free rides to some of the roughly 50,000 people who have signed up for its driverless ride-hailing service.
Waymo is expanding into Los Angeles, the second largest U.S. city, seven months after California regulators authorized its robotaxis to begin charging for around-the-clock rides throughout San Francisco. That came despite objections from local officials who asserted the driverless vehicles posed unacceptable risks to public safety.
Although Waymo isn't charging for rides in its robotaxis in Los Angeles to start, the company said in a blog post announcing the expansion that it will eventually collect fares from passengers there too. Waymo also hopes to begin commercial operations in Austin, Texas, later this year, a goal that makes its robotaxi service available in four major U.S. cities 15 years after it began as a secret project within Google. Waymo's robotaxis have been charging for rides in Phoenix since 2020.
For now, Waymo's free rides in Los Angeles will cover a 63-square-mile (101-square-kilometer) area spanning from Santa Monica to downtown.
Waymo is launching operations in Los Angeles two weeks after the California Public Utilities Commission approved the expansion in a decision that once again overrode the concerns of city transportation officials about robotaxis coming to sudden stops that block roads and the potential for driverless vehicles to malfunction in more serious ways that could jeopardize lives.
The worst fears about robotaxis were realized in San Francisco last October when a vehicle operated by Cruise, a driverless ride-hailing service owned by General Motors, dragged a pedestrian who was hit by another car operated by a human for 20 feet (6 meters) while traveling at roughly 7 mph (11 kph) before coming to a stop. The incident resulted in California regulators suspending Cruise's state license and triggered a massive shakeup at that service.
Waymo's robotaxis so far haven't been involved in any major accidents.
More from CBS News
Address of this article:http://ethiopia.usblaserengraving.com/article-95e199861.html
Very good!(91336)
Related articles
- I was sent an explicit photo by a stranger on my birthday so I took hilarious revenge on him
- Millennial Chinese Nurse Striving to Improve Self
- China Makes 1
- Dedicated Nurse Thrives on Several Front Lines
- Former Alabama star player, athletic director Hootie Ingram dies at age 90
- Japan teen Anraku wins Asiad men's combined sport climbing
- Ditch the head to toe tweed, DO wear skinny jeans
- Athletics highlights at 19th Asian Games
- Leak from Indiana fertilizer tank results in 10
- Dedicated Shopkeeper Goes Extra Mile
Popular articles
Recommended
Closing prices for crude oil, gold and other commodities
Volunteer Undertakes Mission to Preserve Vanishing Heirloom Seed Varieties
Taiwan Doctor Participates in Nucleic Acid Testing in Tianjin
GLOBALink
Second juror in New Hampshire youth center abuse trial explains verdict, says state misinterpreted
CBA: Liaoning clinch best regular season record
Wang Chuqin, Wang Manyu Win All
China expects 17.5 mln rail passenger trips on first day of Qingming Festival holiday
Links
- Xi Sends Congratulatory Letter to Zhongguancun Forum
- Borders no boundary to protecting cranes
- Xi Story: The Growth Story of a 'Dot'
- Camping becomes burgeoning trend in China
- Camping tourism rebounds as pandemic eases and spring comes
- Local flavor adds spice to tourism
- Xi Sends Congratulations to Micronesia's New President
- Chinese paddlers continue winning streak at WTT Champions Incheon
- Xi Focus: Encouraging Sci
- Tourists enjoy kiteboarding in Hainan