Commentary

Waymo Gets Go-Ahead To Carry Passengers In Self-Driving Cars

The state of California has authorized Waymo to carry passengers in its self-driving cars.

The California Public Utilities Commission gave Waymo permission, issuing a “certificate authorizing the transportation of passengers by test autonomous motor vehicles on a pilot testing basis over the public highways of the state of California as a charter-party carrier of passengers.”

Certain conditions were also stipulated.

For example, the state did not authorize the acceptance of “monetary compensation” for transportation in the autonomous vehicles, and car top lights and taxi meters are prohibited.

The certificate did authorize round-trip, sightseeing tour services.

The vehicles also are to be driven by a person with an “autonomous vehicle testing program test vehicle operator permit” from the California Department of Motor Vehicles, according to the certificate.

The permit to carry passengers, which can be renewed, is for a three-month period.

Now the Waymo robo-fleet can hit the streets.

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1 comment about "Waymo Gets Go-Ahead To Carry Passengers In Self-Driving Cars".
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  1. R MARK REASBECK from www.USAonly.US , July 5, 2019 at 9:44 p.m.

    "The vehicles also are to be driven by a person with an “autonomous vehicle testing program test vehicle operator permit” from the California Department of Motor Vehicles, according to the certificate."

    "
    "Driven by a person"???   with a special license and no lights.  Have you seen these cars with all the Ghost Buster gear all over the roof tops?

    If it's Auto-tonomous , why does it need a driver?  Don't taxi's, limo's and Uber have drivers already.......................Someone tell me the point to all of this.

    Wait till this autotonomous  vehicles hits an abandoned couch or ladder on I-5.

    haven't asked for a while, HOW MUCH does that Ghost Buster tech cost the "anxious" self driving driver???   ($17,000 to $22,000 per car, my guess)

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About the Author

Chuck Martin is Editor of the AI & IoT Daily at MediaPost and writes the daily Connected Thinking column. He is a NY Times Business bestselling author and his latest book is “Digital Transformation 3.0” (The New Business-to-Consumer Connections of The Internet of Things.) He is CEO of Net Future Institute and a frequent keynote speaker internationally. Follow him on Twitter @chuckmartin and contact him at Chuck@MediaPost.com.