ORLANDO, Fla. – Driverless taxis may soon become a common sight on Orlando roadways as Waymo moves closer to launching commercial service in the city.
Residents may have already spotted the autonomous vehicles in recent weeks. Orlando City Commissioner Shan Rose confirmed the vehicles are currently undergoing testing throughout the city and said full commercial service could begin as early as March.
“It’s important because there isn’t a driver in the car, and we want to make sure people aren’t calling 911,” Rose said, noting that residents should not be alarmed if they see a vehicle operating without a human driver.
Waymo announced plans in November to expand its self-driving taxi service to Orlando after previously launching in Miami. While the Waymo app currently lists Orlando service as “coming soon,” multiple vehicles were observed testing along South John Young Parkway.
[BELOW: Take a look at Waymo in Orlando]
Rose said the arrival of autonomous vehicles represents a major shift in transportation technology.
“It’s a sign of the times,” she said. “When we were children and we looked at The Jetsons, we thought that would never happen in our lifetime.”
In a statement, Waymo said its self-driving technology improves roadway safety, citing company data that shows the Waymo Driver is involved in 11 times fewer serious injury collisions compared to human drivers in the cities it currently serves.
Despite those claims, some Orlando residents expressed hesitation about riding in a driverless vehicle.
“At first you’re like, ‘Wow,’ and it makes you double take a few times,” one resident said. Others said they would not feel comfortable allowing themselves or their children to ride in one, citing concerns about technical failures or unexpected shutdowns.
[BELOW: Florida Automated Vehicles Summit wraps with push toward real-world deployment]
Waymo’s rollout has not been without issues elsewhere. Last month, a self-driving Waymo vehicle stopped traffic in San Francisco during a widespread power outage, according to city officials. Weeks earlier, video from Austin, Texas, appeared to show Waymo vehicles passing school buses with flashing red lights and stop signs as children were crossing the street.
Some residents said they may eventually consider using the service but prefer to wait and see how it performs locally.
City leaders say residents should remain vigilant when sharing the road with autonomous vehicles as testing continues. Waymo has not announced an exact launch date for commercial service in Orlando.