Waymo's driverless cars can now independently navigate highways

Waymo has officially launched its driverless taxis on US highways. Now passengers can book rides in autonomous Jaguar I-Pace vehicles between the San Francisco area, Silicon Valley, and local airports — all without a driver present on high-speed roads.

What is known

Waymo's self-driving taxi routes are no longer limited to city streets. Cars can enter high-speed highways, perform complex lane changes and maneuvers, which was previously only within the capabilities of regular taxis or driver services. New routes will soon be available in Los Angeles and Phoenix.

This event marks a technological leap for the entire industry: transitioning to highways increases the technical complexity of operation, requires more energy resources, and is comparable in responsibility to traditional transportation. Regulators will now closely monitor not only safety on city streets but also the behavior of driverless vehicles on high-speed roads.

Source: Waymo