Cruise and Waymo have been conducting experimental services in limited time frames and specific geographical zones within San Francisco.
The self-driving car industry in California has received a substantial boost.
After a contentious vote by a state agency, Alphabet Inc's Waymo and General Motors' Cruise are now permitted to transport paying passengers day and night across San Francisco, solidifying the city as the epicenter of the autonomous vehicle (AV) industry. This decision represents a significant stride forward for this emerging technology.
On Thursday, the California Public Utilities Commission supported the companies' stance despite strong objections from certain residents and city organizations. During the session, commissioners listened to over six hours of public comments from both supporters and opponents of the measure, which aimed to expand paid autonomous vehicle services.
Transportation and safety agencies, including the police and fire departments, along with numerous residents, expressed opposition to the expansion of paid robotaxi services. They cited concerns about unpredictable driving behaviors and potential disruption to their operations. Although these agencies lack regulatory authority, they advocated strongly for a more gradual introduction of experimental autonomous vehicles.
On the other side of the debate, proponents of the expansion included technologists and residents who believed that self-driving cars offer a safer alternative to human drivers and contribute significantly to San Francisco's economy.
With the recent decision, both companies have gained approval to initiate citywide paid taxi services round the clock. As a consequence, they intend to deploy more autonomous vehicles. Together, these companies already have over 500 self-driving vehicles actively operating.
Prior to granting approval for the expansion, Commissioner John Reynolds acknowledged some of the public's apprehensions. He stated, "While we don't yet possess the data to evaluate autonomous vehicles against the benchmark set by human drivers, I am optimistic about the potential of this technology to enhance road safety."
Cruise and Waymo have conducted experimental services with limitations on operating hours and geographic zones within San Francisco. Following Thursday's decision, neither company specified a precise timeline for implementing 24/7 taxi services, but they did express the intention to do so in promotional emails issued after the vote.
This development signifies a crucial advancement in the regulation of autonomous vehicles, a field in which Waymo, Cruise, and other entities have been progressively introducing their technologies across various cities and states in the country.
The approval "signifies the actual initiation of our commercial operations in San Francisco," stated Tekedra Mawakana, Waymo's co-CEO, in a prepared statement. Prashanthi Raman, Cruise's Vice President of Global Government Affairs, mentioned in an email that this decision positions Cruise to contend with conventional ride-hailing services and challenge an unsafe and inaccessible transportation norm.
San Francisco holds significance not only as a symbolic tech hub but also as the largest testing ground for these experimental vehicles, with hundreds of autonomous vehicles already in operation. Both companies have emphasized the importance of real-world testing in dense urban environments to refine the technology.
As per the commission's announcement on Thursday, Waymo will be permitted to operate at speeds of up to 65 miles per hour and during adverse weather conditions. In contrast, Cruise will have a speed limitation of 35 miles per hour and will not be authorized to drive in unfavorable weather conditions.
The companies, which applied for permits from the commission to expand their taxi services, have asserted that their vehicles are safer than easily distracted human drivers and have not been the cause of any life-threatening injuries or fatalities.
Cruise and Waymo will now be entering direct competition with local firms Uber and Lyft, providing app-summoned rides.
These self-driving vehicles, equipped with empty driver seats and autonomous steering mechanisms, have become a common sight throughout San Francisco. Locals often share instances of their driving quirks on social media platforms.
The proposal for robotaxis generated a division within San Francisco's community. Some residents expressed resentment at their city being used as a testing ground for what they view as an unproven technology. On the other hand, there are those who believe that the city, as a symbolic technology hub, should take the lead in developing a technology that could potentially result in fewer traffic accidents and injuries.
Hundreds of residents and representatives from various interest groups congregated in the commission's San Francisco hearing room to offer one-minute comments on both sides of the issue. They cited concerns spanning from disabled accessibility, safety, software coding, union involvement, to potential conflicts of interest, among a myriad of other worries.
The commission had received testimony from the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, indicating that they had recorded almost 600 incidents involving autonomous vehicles since the spring of 2022. They believe this number is "a fraction" of the total due to what they consider to be lenient reporting requirements.
Commissioner Genevieve Shiroma advocated for a postponed vote, citing the substantial amount of public input and her persistent concerns after evidence emerged indicating that these vehicles had obstructed emergency vehicles in San Francisco. She was the sole dissenting vote.
"Just one instance of a driverless autonomous vehicle impeding a first responder's ability to perform their duties in real-time is enough to convince me that we should not grant approval for citywide deployment," she stated.
On the other hand, proponents of wider autonomous vehicle adoption, including technologists and residents, expressed concerns that voting against the expansion could potentially hinder a local industry that brings jobs and visibility to a city in dire need of economic revitalization.
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