No Driver, No Problem: Waymo eyes Portland streets PORTLAND, Ore. (KATU) — Waymo plans to bring its autonomous vehicle service to Portland. The company announced Tuesday that it has begun early preparations by manually driving its vehicles through city streets. The Alphabet-owned company said it is working with state and city officials, along with community partners, to establish a regulatory path for deployment. The effort marks the latest expansion for Waymo as it aims to introduce its self-driving technology in Oregon. READ ALSO | Self-driving car industry 'trying to overcome human error,' asks for new federal standards Starting this week, Waymo will operate vehicles with human drivers to help its autonomous system learn Portland’s roads, bridges and high-traffic corridors. The company said it will follow its established safety framework as it prepares for eventual public service. Portland Mayor Keith Wilson welcomed the move, citing the city’s transportation safety goals. “As a green transportation leader of one of the safest trucking companies in America, I’ve seen firsthand how emerging technology can transform safety for all road users,” Wilson said in a press release. “We need every tool to help us meet our Vision Zero goals, and autonomous technology plays an increasingly important role in providing a safe, thriving, affordable multimodal transportation system.” Waymo said its technology has contributed to a significant reduction in serious injury crashes in other cities where it operates, reporting a 13-fold decrease compared with human drivers. The company said it hopes to bring similar safety benefits to Portland as it supports the city’s Vision Zero initiative to eliminate traffic deaths. Safety advocates also praised the expansion. Candace Reid, program director at Mothers Against Drunk Driving, said autonomous vehicles could help reduce impaired driving. “The safe deployment of autonomous vehicles can play a critical role in preventing individuals