Waymo Robotaxis returns to New York City

Waymo announced today that it intends to launch the autonomous Robotaxi service in New York City – but it first needs to change the state law to allow its vehicles to work with safety drivers behind the wheel.

The company owned by the alphabet said that it had applied for a permit from the city’s Ministry of Transport to test its vehicles with safety drivers. If granted, this will be the first permitted permit The new process of the city to organize independent test vehicles. While waiting, Waymo says next month that he will start collecting data using manually paid vehicles in Manhattan.

The New York State Law requires that the test vehicle operator be present and ready to control the car while operating the AV technology, “according to the AV website in the city. Wimo said it is necessary to actively change the law to allow independent vehicles without safety drivers.

A draft law on the legislative council for the state of New York was submitted earlier this year, which allows independent vehicles without safety drivers, “provided that the automatic driving system is engaged and that the car will meet certain conditions.” The draft law is currently being reviewed by the Senate Transport Committee in the state.

New York City also has some of The most dangerous streets, crowded, and mismanagement In the world. It is also full of construction, pedestrian workers, bicycle and dual and sometimes tannated cars. In theory, this would make it very difficult for an independent transport vehicle, given that AVS usually depends on good weather, clear signs, and less aggressive driving from other road users to operate safely. It is not clear that the state will amend its laws to allow vehicles completely without a driver, as some legislators express reservations.

“This type of test has not been completed in other parts of the country,” said Senator John Liu. News daily Last year after the city announced the new permit. “New York City is supposed to wait for some other driver technology results in less intense urban areas. This is an example of something in which New York City should not be first.”

While other countries have become a foci of the AV test, New York was a little from the ghost city. Part of the cause may be the strict rules of the state, which originally requires accompanying the police from independent test vehicles – although this language was removed after the renewal of the law several years ago.

Waymo currently runs on the Robotaxi fleet consisting of 1500 cars in four markets: San Francisco, the Gulf region, Los Angeles, Phenix and Austin. It plans to launch a commercial service in Atlanta later this year, as well as Miami and Washington, DC. The company said it would do Add 2000 additional vehicles To her fleet until 2026.