Waymo’s self-driving cars have officially arrived in Denver, and they are currently mapping the city with the assistance of human drivers as they prepare for a full autonomous launch expected next year.
The introduction of these vehicles into Denver’s transportation landscape has raised significant questions regarding their legality, policing, and protocols in case of accidents.
According to Nancy Kuhn, a spokesperson for the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure, these self-driving vehicles are regulated in the same manner as traditional human-driven cars.
“As Colorado law reads, if Waymo can follow all the traffic laws, it can operate in our state,” Kuhn stated.
This means that Waymo vehicles are mandated to adhere to all road and curbside rules, both posted and unposted.
Waymo has already launched its services in a number of cities, including San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Austin, and Atlanta, creating a framework that policymakers are keenly monitoring as new issues arise.
The company boasts that its self-driving vehicles are safer than their human counterparts, a claim not entirely unfounded, especially when considering Denver’s alarming statistics related to irresponsible driving.
This year alone, over 60 people have lost their lives due to traffic incidents in Denver, prompting the need for safer alternatives.
Waymo vehicles come with advantages in safety; they cannot engage in dangerous behaviors such as drunk driving.
However, they are not immune from traffic violations, as evidenced by a recent incident where a Waymo was pulled over for making an illegal U-turn during a DUI enforcement operation in San Bruno, California.
In the event of a collision while you are riding in a Waymo vehicle, the car is designed to automatically inform the Waymo Support team, who will subsequently review the incident with you.
Should there be injuries, it is recommended to call 911 immediately.
Waymo’s guidelines advise passengers to exchange information or document the collision where necessary.
“Our on-site support will also document it to ensure insurance details are captured. Our main focus is getting you to your destination safely, and we will help you hail another vehicle to get there,” the Waymo website states.
For passengers in a collision involving a Waymo that is operating without any human inside, the same protocol applies.
If injuries occur, the advice remains to call 911 and move to a safe location to facilitate information exchange.
Interestingly, Waymo vehicles may continue on a route to find a safe location to stop post-collision, but they will signal awareness of the event through a dome light.
Passengers can expect that the windows will roll down automatically for communication with the Waymo support team.
Alternately, individuals can inform Waymo about the accident by calling 1-844-263-9885, filling out a form on their website, scanning a QR code found on the vehicle itself, or reaching out via email for insurance details.
Real human representatives, not robots, will eventually arrive on the scene as part of Waymo’s roadside assistance.
As far as the city is concerned, Denver’s regulatory framework around autonomous vehicles such as Waymo’s is not particularly stringent.
State legislation permits such systems to operate as long as they can comply with all relevant driving laws while generally prohibiting cities from creating their own policies.
Unless the vehicles demonstrate incapability in following traffic laws, companies like Waymo are not required to submit their vehicles for testing.
Currently, since Waymo vehicles are not fully autonomous, it grants the city some time to establish protocols around potential incidents, including collisions and vehicular homicides, as noted by DOTI’s Kuhn.
When Waymo began its outreach for expansion into Denver, it proactively connected with the Denver Police Department.
A DPD spokesperson acknowledged awareness of Waymo’s rollout plans, stating that police personnel will be briefed on how to handle any incidents and that collaboration with Waymo is already in place.
The DPD also mentioned a community education initiative facilitated by Waymo aimed at raising awareness among residents regarding the new technology.
image source from：denverite
