From Axios: “Waymo, Google’s self-driving car company, is pulling the human backup driver from self-driving minivans and will test vehicles on public roads with only an employee in the back seat, AP’s Tom Krisher reports from Detroit:
- Why it matters: “It’s a major step toward vehicles driving themselves without human backups on public roads. The company also said it would launch a ride service to compete with Uber and Lyft.”
- “The Waymo employee in the back seat won’t be able to steer the minivan, but like all passengers, will be able to press a button to bring the van safely to a stop if necessary.”
- “Within a ‘few months,’ the fully autonomous vans will begin carrying volunteer passengers who are now taking part in a Phoenix-area test that includes use of backup drivers.”