Waymo's Driverless Rides Are Hitting Freeways, Starting in These Cities

Core Insights - Waymo is expanding its driverless rides to include freeway routes in San Francisco, Phoenix, and Los Angeles, allowing for quicker travel to destinations [1][2] - The service will initially be available to customers who opted for early access, with plans for gradual rollout to more users [3] Expansion of Services - Waymo currently operates its robotaxi service in five cities, with plans for further expansion [2] - The service area in the San Francisco Bay Area now covers over 260 square miles, including San Jose Mineta International Airport [10][11] - Waymo has received a pilot permit for commercial operations at San Francisco International Airport, which will be rolled out in phases [12][13] Technology and Safety - Waymo has been testing freeway rides for over a year, focusing on system safety and reliability [2][7] - The autonomous vehicles are designed to handle freeway driving without human intervention, with the ability to navigate ramps and change lanes [4][8] - The Waymo Driver is noted for not getting tired or losing focus, which is a significant advantage in high-speed driving scenarios [8] Challenges and Testing - Freeway driving presents unique challenges, and Waymo has utilized closed-course driving and simulation testing to prepare its system for various scenarios [9] - The company emphasizes that critical events occur less frequently on freeways, making it essential to train the system for high-speed situations [9] Competitive Landscape - With the expansion of freeway rides, Waymo is increasingly sharing the roads with other self-driving companies like Nuro and Amazon-owned Zoox, which have also begun public rides [14]