Waymo <b>self-driving cars</b> could come to Portland, Disability Rights Oregon talks safety

Waymo self-driving cars could come to Portland, Disability Rights Oregon talks safety

PORTLAND, Ore. — Self-driving cars could soon be on the streets of Portland.

Waymo, the autonomous vehicle company owned by Alphabet, has begun early testing by manually driving vehicles across the city as it prepares for a potential rollout. The move has sparked strong reactions—some residents are excited about innovation, while others raise concerns about safety and impacts on rideshare drivers.

READ MORE | No Driver, No Problem: Waymo eyes Portland streets

On Thursday, KATU News talked with Tom Stenson of Disability Rights Oregon.

He spoke about what autonomous vehicles could mean for accessibility, especially for people with disabilities. You can watch the full interview below:

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.