2017: Waymo Begins Testing Fully Autonomous Vehicles on Public Roads

In October 2017, Waymo, a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., made history by becoming the first company to test fully autonomous vehicles on public roads without a human safety driver behind the wheel. This milestone marked a significant leap in the development of self-driving technology, showcasing the potential of autonomous vehicles to transform transportation.

What Are Fully Autonomous Vehicles?

Fully autonomous vehicles operate at Level 4 autonomy, meaning they can drive themselves without human intervention within specific conditions or areas. These cars rely on advanced technologies, including:

• Lidar (Light Detection and Ranging): Uses lasers to create a 3D map of the environment.
• Radar and Cameras: Detect objects, measure distances, and track movement.
• AI Algorithms: Process sensor data to make real-time decisions about navigation, obstacle avoidance, and traffic rules.

Waymo’s vehicles were equipped with these systems, allowing them to navigate complex urban environments safely.

The Testing Program in Chandler, Arizona

Waymo began its fully autonomous testing in Chandler, a city in the Phoenix metropolitan area. Arizona was chosen due to its favorable weather conditions (no snow or heavy rain), straightforward road layouts, and permissive regulations for autonomous vehicle testing.

Key details of the program included:

• No Safety Driver: Unlike previous tests, these vehicles operated without anyone behind the wheel. A Waymo employee sat in the back seat with access to an emergency stop button.
• Geofenced Area: The cars were limited to a 100-square-mile area within Chandler but could navigate anywhere within this boundary.
• Ride-Hailing Trials: Waymo invited participants from its early rider program to use these vehicles for everyday trips like commuting, shopping, or school drop-offs.

Waymo CEO John Krafcik stated: “This is the most advanced vehicle we’ve developed to date. Everything in it is designed and built for full autonomy.”

Why Was This Significant?

The move to fully driverless testing demonstrated Waymo’s confidence in its technology and highlighted several advancements:

1. Safety Features:
   • Redundant systems for braking, steering, and computing ensured that failures wouldn’t compromise safety.
   • The software conducted thousands of self-checks per second to detect and respond to potential issues.
2. Extensive Testing:
   • By 2017, Waymo had driven over 3.5 million miles on public roads across 20 U.S. cities.
   • In simulation, its software drove more than 10 million miles daily, practicing rare and complex scenarios.
3. Industry First:
   • Waymo was the first company to achieve fully driverless operation on public roads at normal speeds, setting a benchmark for competitors like Tesla and GM Cruise.

Impact on Transportation

Waymo’s testing program highlighted the transformative potential of autonomous vehicles:

• Safety: Research shows that human error causes over 90% of traffic accidents. Autonomous systems like Waymo’s aim to reduce accidents by eliminating distractions, fatigue, and impaired driving.
• Accessibility: Self-driving cars could provide mobility for people unable to drive due to age or disability.
• Efficiency: Autonomous ride-hailing services could reduce traffic congestion and emissions by optimizing routes and encouraging car-sharing.

In February 2025, a Swiss Re study found that Waymo’s autonomous vehicles had 92% fewer liability claims compared to human-driven cars, reinforcing their safety benefits.

Challenges and Ethical Questions

Despite its achievements, Waymo’s program raised important questions:

1. Regulation:
   • How should governments regulate fully autonomous vehicles to ensure public safety?
   • Should manufacturers be held liable for accidents involving self-driving cars?
2. Technology Limitations:
   • Autonomous systems struggle in adverse weather conditions like heavy snow or rain.
   • Edge cases—rare but complex scenarios—remain a challenge for AI algorithms.
3. Public Trust:
   • A 2024 survey showed that only 45% of Americans felt comfortable riding in a fully autonomous vehicle. How can companies build trust in this technology?

Sam Abuelsamid, an analyst at Navigant Research, commented: “Waymo has proven its technology works under ideal conditions, but scaling it nationwide will require addressing many technical and regulatory hurdles.”

Current State of Autonomous Vehicles (2025)

As of 2025:

• Waymo operates autonomous ride-hailing services in cities like Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Austin.
• The company has driven over 25 million miles autonomously on public roads.
• The global autonomous vehicle market is projected to reach $186 billion by 2030.

However, widespread adoption remains years away due to regulatory challenges and public skepticism.

Conclusion

Waymo’s 2017 decision to test fully autonomous vehicles on public roads was a landmark moment in the journey toward self-driving cars. By demonstrating that AI-powered systems could handle real-world conditions without human intervention, Waymo set the stage for future advancements in transportation. Yet, as we move closer to an autonomous future, critical questions about regulation, safety, and trust must be addressed. The ultimate challenge lies not just in perfecting the technology but also in ensuring it benefits society as a whole.