news 
Waymo has made history by becoming the first autonomous vehicle operator to secure a permit to test its self-driving cars on the streets of New York City. The approval was announced by the state’s department of transportation, marking a significant milestone for the company and the industry as a whole.
According to reports, Waymo will be allowed to conduct limited testing of its vehicles in certain areas of Manhattan and Brooklyn, with regular check-ins required with the Department of Transportation regarding data and safety. This development marks a major step forward for autonomous vehicle technology in one of the world’s most densely populated urban environments.
As part of this test program, Waymo will be required to have a trained, specialist driver on board its vehicles at all times. It is unclear what kind of restrictions or limitations may be placed on the company as it begins this testing phase.
This permit comes after years of regulatory negotiations and signals a potential shift toward broader deployment of autonomous vehicles in ride-hailing and delivery services across the city’s complex traffic environment.
The move marks a significant turning point for the industry, which has faced skepticism from people who live and work in areas where self-driving technology has been tested. However, Waymo’s permit could accelerate the pace of adoption in urban centers across the U.S., providing regulators with critical data on safety and feasibility.
In recent years, we have seen a trend of cities and states gradually opening their roads to autonomous vehicles, striking a balance between safety concerns and potential benefits such as reduced traffic congestion and improved mobility options.
Source: gizmodo.com
