Waymo opened its driverless ride service in Tampa. Months of mapping and testing came first. The service spans nearly 50 square miles.
These cars drive themselves. No hands grip the wheel, and no feet press the pedals. Passengers sit back and watch while the vehicle manages everything.
Water Street, Armature Works, Ybor City, the Florida Aquarium, Raymond James Stadium, and Benchmark International — all these spots sit within the service area. The cars roll up to pick you up, weave through traffic, turn corners, and switch lanes on their own.
Good Morning Tampa Bay anchor Andrew Kinsey tried the technology in Atlanta before Tampa got its turn. “It’s really incredible, the way it drives; it handles through traffic,” said Kinsey, according to Tampa Bay 28.
The company claims its safety record beats human drivers when measuring serious injuries and crashes. Fourteen cities now have access to these driverless trips.
Tesla rolled out its Robotaxi service in parts of Tampa about a month back. Competition is heating up. Companies are betting that cars without drivers will become normal transportation.
Company officials are talking with St. Petersburg city leaders about spreading across the bay, Tampa Bay 28 reports. When that might happen remains unclear.
Kinsey confessed the technology demands trust. “Ok, I said I would never do this, but here I am,” he said.
The Atlanta test revealed something surprising — riding in the backseat felt normal and calm. Cars cruised through traffic and managed road conditions without anyone touching the controls.