Self-Driving Cars: Waymo Can Finally Test in New York!
Big news from the Big Apple! Waymo, the self-driving car company, just got the thumbs up to start testing its autonomous vehicles on the streets of New York City. Mayor Eric Adams made the announcement, marking a significant step forward for the company. They've secured the first permit of its kind for "testing deployment" of AVs in the city.
For those of you who don't know, Waymo has been aiming to expand its testing grounds, and New York City is a pretty major win. With this permit, Waymo can deploy a fleet of up to eight vehicles in specific areas of Manhattan and Downtown Brooklyn. This testing phase is slated to continue until late September 2025, giving them ample time to gather data and fine-tune their technology in a real-world urban environment.
However, there's a catch! At least for now, these self-driving cars will still have a human driver behind the wheel. It's not a complete free-for-all just yet. Although the company deployed its vehicles to map some parts of NYC back in 2021, the current permit stipulates that Waymo must conduct its tests with a driver present. Waymo will also have to share the information they get from these tests with the Department of Transportation to ensure they're following the best cybersecurity practices.
It's also worth noting that New York state law currently requires a human driver in all vehicles. Waymo has its eyes on changing that rule, and they are lobbying to make it happen, according to Forbes. If they're successful, we might see fully driverless taxis cruising the streets of NYC in the future.
I think that this is great! Self-driving technology is a complex, ever-evolving field, and real-world testing is crucial for its advancement. Testing in a dense, dynamic environment like New York City will undoubtedly present unique challenges and opportunities for Waymo, helping them to refine their technology even further.
Source: Engadget