Self-driving cars spotted in Chicago: What Waymo is actually doing
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Justin takes a self-driving Waymo car in Mesa, Arizona. Photo: Justin Kaufmann/Axios
Self-driving cars were spotted on the streets of Chicago this week, but they still have a long way to go before picking up actual passengers.
The latest: Waymo confirmed to Axios that it is testing vehicles and mapping Chicago streets as part of an initial stage of data collection.
Zoom in: The company is expanding service in multiple cities this week, though not in Chicago.
Why it matters: Autonomous vehicle companies are expanding rapidly, and they would require new legislation in Springfield.
What they're saying: "Chicago is leading the future of mobility by welcoming Waymo to begin initial mapping and manual testing in the city," said state Rep. Kam Buckner (D-Chicago), who is proposing a three-year AV pilot in Cook, Sangamon and Madison counties.
- "This progress is a vital step toward safer streets and more accessible transportation for all our neighborhoods. By embracing autonomous innovation, we are ensuring Illinois remains the premier hub for 21st-century growth."
- Some transportation safety advocates argue that autonomous vehicles could reduce crashes caused by impaired or distracted driving.
Yes, but: While Buckner is all in, it's unclear if the General Assembly will take up any legislation this spring session, which ends in May.
- Without legislation, fully autonomous service would likely be delayed until at least the fall.
The other side: In 2025, state Rep. Stephanie Kifowit introduced a bill to require a human operator in AVs, but it never got a vote.
- "Driving is fairly dangerous, and it's our role as a state to make it as safe as possible," Kifowit told Axios. "I firmly believe that there has to be somebody who is there monitoring and making sure the vehicle is being properly operated."
Zoom out: In many cities, Waymo isn't the future; it's the present. The futuristic white Jaguar cars are everywhere in the Phoenix area.
Justin had a chance to hail one while down in Arizona covering spring training. Here's his review.
Getting the car: Easy. It's just like Uber or Lyft. You hail the car through a Waymo app and when it shows up, you unlock the doors with your phone.
The ride: The big fear was that the car would be tentative and let other traffic take advantage of it, but that was not the case. The car accelerated confidently and navigated traffic smoothly.
Safety: I've heard my fellow humans' trepidation about what the robot will do if it needs to take evasive measures to avoid an accident. Luckily, I wasn't faced with that dilemma on my round trip.
- I felt safe — maybe even safer than in the hands of a ride-app driver.
💠Justin's thought bubble: Waymo cars are on their way — just don't expect any small talk from the drivers.