Waymo robotaxis are now giving rides on freeways in LA, San Francisco, and Phoenix

Waymo, the autonomous vehicle company that evolved from Google's self-driving project, has announced that its robotaxi service will now operate on freeways in San Francisco, Phoenix, and Los Angeles. This marks a significant milestone, as freeway driving had remained a challenge despite early testing. The freeway capability is expected to reduce ride times by up to 50%, improving travel efficiency across sprawling metro areas and enabling rides to and from key locations like the San Francisco Airport. Initially, freeway rides will be available selectively to users who indicate a preference in the Waymo app, with robotaxi routes expanding to include San Jose and creating a 260-mile unified service area. Waymo’s approach to freeway driving involved extensive testing beyond public roads, including closed course and simulation environments, to address the unique challenges of autonomous freeway navigation without human backup. The company emphasized the complexity of mastering freeway driving at scale, highlighting the rarity of critical events on highways that make system validation difficult. Operational protocols have also been enhanced to coordinate with safety