GENEVA, N.Y. — Self-driving cars could be coming to New York. Waymo showcased one on Tuesday in Geneva, sparking discussions about the future of autonomous vehicles in the state.
State Sen. Jeremy Cooney, chair of the Transportation Committee, spoke about the importance of safety in authorizing self-driving vehicles in the state.
Cooney is advocating for legislation to legalize fully self-driving vehicles in New York. He compared the current situation to when ride-sharing platforms weren’t available to everyone state-wide.
“I remember a time in New York when Uber and Lyft and ride-sharing platforms weren’t allowed in one part of the state versus another part of the state, and we should learn from that mistake,” Cooney said.
Waymo representatives discussed the self-driving car with students at Hobart and William Smith College.
Caely McCormick, a student from Arizona where self-driving cars are legal, shared her experience.
“I’ve been on a Waymo twice,” McCormick said. “I felt pretty safe. There were, like, some reckless drivers around me when I was in one. But it was, you know, checking blind spots, taking its time, merging. The speed was exactly on point.”
Some students questioned if New York is even ready to make self-driving cars available. Waymo is currently in the testing process and has a car mapping Rochester this week with a driver behind the wheel.
Officials tells us that Waymo has to report back to New York State on a quarterly basis about safety concerns, mishaps, violations, or any accidents.
Waymo shares that safety data from cities where it operates. To take a look at it, click here.
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