Waymo, a company that has its biggest focus on autonomous, self-driving vehicles, just received a permit from the New York Department of Transportation to begin testing of its vehicles within New York City as of recently. According to CNBC, “Waymo will start testing up to eight vehicles in Manhattan and Downtown Brooklyn through late September with the potential to extend the program. New York state law requires the company to have a driver behind the wheel to operate.” This follows two months prior when the company had filed for permits to test these vehicles with a trained professional.
Eric Adams posted on social media site, X, stating that “We’re a tech-friendly administration and we’re always looking for innovative ways to safely move our city forward” and that “NYC DOT and Waymo will work together to prioritize New Yorkers’ safety on this pilot.” It seems apparent that with this testing phase, adequate precautions are being taken in order to minimize risk and potential danger to residents of New York City.
Many people have already begun to encounter the Waymo vehicles within the city, making posts on and documenting their encounters, such as one user saying “First Waymo spotted in NYC! This time with a safety driver. Hopefully doing autonomous rides soon,” while providing a photo of a Waymo vehicle on the road. Another posted a video of a Waymo vehicle coming to a halt at a traffic light and performing a turn while being wary of potential obstacles and nearby pedestrians.
