Waymo robotaxis set to cruise past red tape into LA and beyond

The way is paved for autonomous vehicle company Waymo to extend taxi services beyond San Francisco and into the San Francisco Peninsula and Los Angeles. This is largely due to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) reaffirming its March decision to allow Waymo's expansion, reports the San Francisco Chronicle. …

[Anonymous Coward]

Not a local issue

There should definitely be ZERO local control of what cars are allowed on the road. That would rapidly turn into a nightmare.

It really shouldn't even be state level, if NHTSA says it's allowed on the road, states should not be allowed to say otherwise.

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: Not a local issue

That depends on the powers of the US model of democracy. NHTSA is a federal agency, and its accountability to voters is near enough nil. Do you really want unelected bureaucrats making all the decisions?

However, as I'm on the other side of the Atlantic, I should be cheering them on. Let Waymo and others experiment on the locals first, and we'll allow it when the technology has improved.

[bombastic bob]

Re: Not a local issue

The U.S. Constitution actually limits Federal power to specific things, and everything ELSE is in the hands of the states.

Interstate commerce, if involved, justifies federal action. So if a car is legal to purchase in one state, it should be legal to purchase in another. [This should eventually KILL *ALL* state bans on certain kinds of vehicles].

So a self-driving car may need some minimal federal safety standards, and a state may (possibly) extend that WITHIN REASON. but an outright ban or federal overreach SHOULD fail.

This is sort of how things have been for a while. Requiring seat belts, safety glass, advanced anti-skid and braking systems, along with minimal air pollution control devices and standards [Some states go far and above the federal standards] has been established through decades of precedent.

Not simple, but "business as usual" is likely to continue with self-driving cars.

[Throatwarbler Mangrove]

Re: Not a local issue

Cars are licensed by the state that they're in, so it makes sense that each state would have the capability to set standards for vehicle operation, as long as those standards don't conflict with federal requirements.

[MachDiamond]

Re: Not a local issue

"as long as those standards don't conflict with federal requirements."

That's the problem, there are no federal standards for autonomous vehicles. There's almost no State standards as well. Companies apply to be allowed to operate on public roads, but I haven't heard of any standardized testing being required to see if the vehicles are safe and fit which should also be reviewed when changes are made to software.

[pbklink]

Re: Not a local issue

There is however competition with other countries developing their autonomous vehicle industry. If US companies don't have the same testing opportunities as overseas companies, the US will fall behind.

I expect this is much more a federal issue than a state issue.

[bombastic bob]

Hi I'm Johnny Cab

a nice shout-out to "Total Recall"

[Bebu]

I suspect some neighbourhoods...

might be actively avoided.

I can visualize a scrum of solid chaps lifting a vehicle off the road while it's stripped of tyres, accessories etc. A bit like the e-scooters and bicycles that ended up in our city's waterways.

[abend0c4]

Re: I suspect some neighbourhoods...

Given that at least some of these vehicles appear to become helpless when they lose network connectivity, simply making a series of bookings to be picked up from cellular not-spots would be sufficient to cause chaos. And if there happened to be a breaker's yard nearby, I'm sure nature would take its course.