The authorization allows Waymo to deploy and charge for autonomous taxi rides in Los Angeles for the first time.
On March 1st, the California Public Utilities Commission authorized Waymo, a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., to expand its robotaxi services to Los Angeles and cities in the peninsula south of San Francisco. The authorization allows Waymo to deploy and charge for autonomous taxi rides in new areas of the peninsula and in Los Angeles for the first time, according to a letter sent by the commission to Waymo.
The decision came months after Waymo began offering rides in fully autonomous vehicles to its employees in San Francisco. Previously, the company had successfully operated a driverless service for the public in the suburbs of Phoenix, Arizona. While Waymo vehicles became common on the streets of San Francisco, reports of sudden stops affecting city traffic emerged.
Prior to this, California authorities had revoked the license of Cruise, a rival robotaxi service owned by General Motors, after determining that its autonomous vehicles operating in San Francisco posed a danger. As a result, Waymo initiated a testing process in Los Angeles over the past year, during which it marketed the service and transported passengers anonymously through invitations, as part of safety testing.

Security and robotaxis
The authorization in Los Angeles and San Mateo expands Waymo’s access to over 4,500 square miles for its operations, compared to just 47 square miles in San Francisco and 517 square miles in Phoenix. However, local authorities expressed opposition and sought to have greater influence over decisions regarding Waymo’s robotaxi operations. Additionally, local leaders voiced concerns about public safety following an incident during a robotaxi test in Los Angeles when the vehicle failed to obey traffic signals.
Janice Hahn, supervisor of Los Angeles County, criticized the California Public Utilities Commission’s approval, labeling it a “dangerous decision.“ She expressed concern about the lack of testing of these robotaxis and argued that Los Angeles residents should not be guinea pigs for technology companies. According to the LA Times, Hahn emphasized that such decisions should involve and be agreed upon by local authorities.
The Los Angeles Department of Transportation also argued for the need for stricter regulations for automated vehicles before their deployment, as well as the standardization of disengagement protocols. However, currently, local jurisdictions have no say in the commercial deployment of autonomous vehicles.

New tariffs on copper and pharmaceuticals amid push to reshore manufacturing
President Donald Trump announced a 50% tariff on copper imports and stated he is considering a 200% levy on imported pharmaceutical products. As part of

Record Storms Slam the U.S.: Over 100 Dead in Texas, Widespread Flooding Across Multiple States
Record Storms Slam the U.S.: Over 100 Dead in Texas, Widespread Flooding Across Multiple States

Hollywood-Style Cargo Heists: The Most Bizarre and Cinematic Truck Robberies in the U.S. and Worldwide
Hollywood style cargo heists. From drones and tunnels to hackers and superhero disguises, these truck heists are so outrageous they seem pulled straight from the big screen. But they really happened.

Over 40 Mexican Truckers Lose Driving Privileges in the U.S. Due to Lack of English Skills — Pressure Mounts to Get Trained
More than 40 Mexican truck drivers have recently lost their authorization to operate on U.S. highways due to insufficient English language proficiency, according to freight industry officials.

Fireworks events in the U.S. to celebrate the Fourth of July
From sea to shining sea, fireworks light up the sky across the U.S. on the Fourth of July. The Fourth of July is one of

249 years of Independence: the legacy of America’s founding document
In 1776 the Founding Fathers changed history forever with the first draft of what would become known as the Declaration of Independence. In May 1776,
Cool blog! Is your theme custom mafe or did you download it from
somewhere? A ttheme like yours with a few simple tweeks would really make myy blog shine.
Please let me knw where you got your design. Many thanks https://Waste-ndc.pro/community/profile/tressa79906983/
My brother recommended I might like this web site. He was totally right.
This post truly made my day. You cann’t imagine simply hoow
much time Ihad spent for this information! Thanks! https://www.Waste-NDC.Pro/community/profile/tressa79906983/