Waymo says robotaxis are ready to handle Boston's icy streets

The move comes after recent launches in Miami, Seattle and Minneapolis.

• But Boston could be a final frontier for self-driving software, requiring the bot to navigate narrow colonial-era streets, heavy snowfall and, *ahem,* aggressive traffic behavior from local drivers.

State of play: Waymo says it's validating its 6th-generation Waymo Driver model against local obstacles like cobblestones and rotaries.

Yes, but: Massachusetts law does not yet permit fully autonomous vehicles on public roads without a human backup driver behind the wheel.

Lawmakers say they're at work with stakeholders to establish a safety framework that would legalize the technology.

• Groups like the Bay State Council of the Blind are supporting Waymo, citing the potential for increased independence for residents who can't drive.

Between the lines: While Waymo scales up, the company faces federal scrutiny of its software following a high-profile collision in Santa Monica last month.

What's next: Waymo says it will continue community outreach and testing while lobbying state officials to update transportation laws.