Topline:<\/p>\n
Los Angeles residents who want to take Waymo\u2019s autonomous taxis beyond the city streets can do so now that the company is offering select trips on freeways throughout the L.A. area. The move comes after Waymo conducted test rides in the region with company employees for Why now: The company Waymo was given the How it works: People who use the Waymo app can now opt into a \u201cfreeway list\u201d of riders interested in \u201cbeing among the first to experience a freeway ride directly in the app,\u201d according to the company.<\/p>\n Waymo said riders will be matched with freeway routes when they’re \u201cmeaningfully faster\u201d than the surface streets. Before a trip is confirmed in the app, users will receive a notification if the route they\u2019ve selected doesn\u2019t involve freeways.<\/p>\n What officials say: Dmitri Dolgov, co-CEO of Waymo, said fully autonomous freeway rides are easy to conceive but \u201chard to truly master.\u201d He said the company is proud to begin offering the option.<\/p>\n \u201cThis milestone is a powerful testament to the maturity of our operations and technology,\u201d he said in a statement.<\/p>\n What’s next: Freeway routes will gradually roll out to more users over time, according to the company. Waymo didn\u2019t immediately respond to LAist\u2019s request for an interview.<\/p>\n LAist took the self-driving cars for a test ride from downtown L.A. to Koreatown last fall and
\n nearly a year<\/a>
\n .<\/p>\n
\n announced<\/a>
\n Wednesday that it will start offering freeway trips to users in L.A., San Francisco and Phoenix.<\/p>\n
\n regulatory go-ahead<\/a>
\n by the California Public Utilities Commission last year to drive on freeways in L.A.’s
\n 120-square mile<\/a>
\n service area, which currently spans from Santa Monica to Echo Park.<\/p>\n
\n reviewed our experience<\/a>
\n . We may try out a freeway route as well. <\/p>\n