Autonomous Vehicle News
State regulators in California have granted permissions to two autonomous vehicle companies to operate driverless taxis 24/7 and deploy an unlimited number of vehicles in San Francisco. The California Public Utilities Commission voted 3-1 in favor of Waymo, backed by General Motors and Cruise, and the Alphabet company to expand their autonomous ride-hailing services. San Francisco’s first responders, in particular, raised concerns regarding the obstacles created by the autonomous vehicles during emergency situations. The San Francisco Fire Department Chief, Jeanine Nicholson, cited multiple incidents where robotaxis blocked pathways for emergency vehicles and obstructed first responder activities at active incidents. With the approval in place, Waymo and Cruise are preparing to expand their operations and offer their autonomous ride-hailing services in San Francisco on a commercial scale.