Waymo to bring driverless cars to Chicago, eyes Midwest expansion

Core Insights - Waymo is expanding its autonomous ride-hailing business into Chicago, marking a significant urban expansion and a test of its technology in a complex environment [1][2][11] - The company has begun initial mapping and manual vehicle testing in Chicago, laying the groundwork for future operations [1][6] - Waymo's autonomous driving system has logged over 127 million fully autonomous miles, demonstrating a significant safety advantage over human drivers [3] Expansion Details - Chicago represents one of Waymo's largest urban expansions to date, aiming to establish a foothold in the Midwest [2][11] - The expansion is part of a broader strategy to enhance road safety and accessibility while fostering local economic growth [6][8] - The timeline for fully driverless public service in Chicago has not been disclosed [1] Safety and Community Engagement - Waymo's vehicles reportedly experience up to 10 times fewer serious injuries or worse collisions and 12 times fewer pedestrian collisions compared to human drivers [3] - Local leaders, including Kam Buckner, emphasize the importance of this initiative for safer streets and innovation in transportation [8] - Safety advocates express cautious optimism about the potential of autonomous vehicles to reduce crashes caused by impaired driving if deployed responsibly [9]