In a remarkable turnaround, public sentiment towards robotaxis in San Francisco has shifted dramatically over the past two years.
Once met with resistance and protests from residents frustrated with their negative impact on traffic and emergency response, autonomous vehicles have now become a beloved fixture in the city’s landscape.
According to a recent poll conducted by the tech-centric political group GrowSF, approximately two-thirds of San Francisco voters now endorse the operation of fully autonomous vehicles within the city.
This marks a significant increase compared to 2023 when public support remained below 50%.
Sachin Agarwal, director of GrowSF, attributed this change in perception to the rise of Waymo’s services, which have allowed more people to experience the technology firsthand.
“We were astounded to see such a huge shift,” Agarwal stated.
He emphasized that as individuals go on rides in autonomous vehicles, they tend to embrace this innovative technology, viewing it as a vital part of the future of transportation.
When participants were asked why they support driverless cars, 30% cited safety benefits compared to human drivers, while 16% highlighted improved safety over traditional rideshare options.
Others noted the convenience and reliability of the technology, calling it the direction in which the future is headed.
Furthermore, the survey indicated a decline in opposition to these vehicles, with only 29% of respondents expressing disapproval, a marked decrease from over 50% in 2023.
Conducted in July by Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin, Metz & Associates, the poll included over 800 respondents.
Billy Riggs, the director of the Autonomous Vehicles and the City Initiative at the University of San Francisco, observed that firsthand experiences with cutting-edge autonomy lead to rapid acceptance among users.
“What our research shows is that there’s a really quick comfort factor once people take that first ride and experience how safe the technology is,” Riggs explained.
Supporting these positive sentiments, a peer-reviewed study released by Waymo claimed that its vehicles significantly outperformed human drivers in terms of collision avoidance.
Analysis based on six years of data and the driving of 56 million miles revealed that Waymo vehicles experienced 82% fewer crashes involving bikers and motorcyclists and 92% fewer encounters with pedestrians.
As of June, Waymo had accumulated close to 30 million miles of driving within San Francisco, effectively normalizing the presence of its robotaxis.
Many parents are utilizing this service to transport their children, while some avid robotaxi users have preferred it over ridesharing alternatives, excluding instances of extended wait times or airport commutes.
Despite the occasional need to wait for rides, the future looks bright for the robotaxi market in the Bay Area.
Waymo recently obtained a permit to operate at San Francisco International Airport (SFO), expanding its reach further.
Additionally, Tesla is preparing to launch its semi-autonomous robotaxi service, which currently operates with a safety driver and has a waitlist for new users, while Amazon’s Zoox aims to debut its commercial robotaxi service in 2026.
As technological innovations continue to evolve, San Francisco embraces a future where autonomous vehicles are no longer a cause for concern but rather a testament to progress and safety in urban mobility.
image source from：sfstandard
