Waymo lets teens ride solo in Phoenix

• Waymo noted the U.S. Centers for Disease Control estimates that teen drivers have the highest accident rates, and drivers under age 20 have a fatal crash rate three times higher than older drivers.

What they're saying: "We know there are many barriers to reliable teen transportation, including busy parents, safety concerns, age, vehicle costs, and more," Waymo said in a press statement.

How it works: The new teen accounts allow riders ages 14-17 to exclusively travel in a 315-square-mile Valley service area.

• Parents can invite their teens to join their own Waymo accounts, pairing them.
• The service includes rider support agents who can assist teens and contact parents if needed, and young riders can provide real-time status updates on their trips with parents.

What we're watching: Waymo doesn't operate in large swaths of the Valley, including west of Interstate 17, east of State Route 87 or in Ahwatukee.

• Spokesperson Chris Bonelli said he couldn't elaborate on possible expansions of Waymo's Phoenix territory, but noted it's the company's largest fully autonomous operating area in the U.S. by a large margin.
• Waymo plans to expand teen accounts to other cities.