Our congested city will soon see more cars on the road, but not necessarily drivers.
Waymo, the autonomous vehicle from Alphabet, is gearing up for a pilot program in NYC that will run through September with eight cars.
On Friday, August 22nd, NYC Mayor Eric Adams approved to test the cars with trained specialists, and the New York State DMV provided the necessary permits. The NYC Department of Transportation gave the green light for vehicles to drive throughout Manhattan and Downtown Brooklyn.
“We’re a tech-friendly administration and we’re always looking for innovative ways to safely move our city forward,” Mayor Eric Adams said. “New York City is proud to welcome Waymo to test this new technology in Manhattan and Brooklyn, as we know this testing is only the first step in moving our city further into the 21st century.”
As the trial begins, Waymo will be required to keep in touch with the DOT for regular meetings to discuss findings and data. Waymo will also have to adhere to the industry’s cybersecurity practices. Once the testing period comes to a close at the end of the month, the company is able to apply for an extension if it chooses to do so.
“As autonomous vehicle technology expands across the country, DOT has put in place comprehensive safety guidelines to ensure safe, responsible testing on our city’s streets,” DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez added. “These requirements will help ensure that the development of this technology is focused, first and foremost, on the safety of everyone who shares our busy city streets.”
While the cars might be out and about, don’t expect to hop into one anytime soon. Autonomous vehicles for for-hire service is currently prohibited by New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) rules, so you might not want to get rid of your Uber or Lyft app just yet.
Would you take a self-driving car? How do you think they’ll affect traffic in NYC? We’ll keep you posted as the trial period gets underway.