A service of autonomous cars to take your children to school

Waymo, formerly known as Google’s autonomous car project, reflects, in the United States, at a service for children under 18. For the moment, a minor has officially not having the right to travel alone on this type of vehicle, even if in fact some parents are already sending their children to school aboard autonomous cars.

Would you let your child go to school, to his dance class or to a boyfriend in a car without a driver? In San Francisco in California, or in Phoenix, Arizona, parents no longer ask themselves the question, in this month of March, and take advantage of Waymo, an autonomous car service. Waymo is also thinking of launching this service officially.

Remember that in California or Arizona, you can easily get on a car without a driver. It has been allowed for long months, but it is always difficult to get used to it. You turn your head at the red light and you see next to you a car without anyone driving, you may know it and see it more and more often, it remains surprising. This Robotaxi is easily identifiable, Io is a white electric Jaguar I-Pace in general, with a small tower on the roof. And when you are a passenger, then there you feel like you are traveling in the future. Waymo is easy to order on its smartphone, even if the service remains more expensive and the journey longer than competitors with a human on board. But, for tourists in San Francisco, Los Angeles or Phoenix in Arizona, the three cities where Waymo is fully active,- an autonomous car tour is added to the list of things to do. The alphabet subsidiary, Google’s parent company, now exceeds 150,000 paid races per week.

This car without a driver also serves as a babysitter, not officially yet, but Waymo is thinking about a service for children under 18: Waymo Teen. Teen, that means adolescent of course. The firm launched a study in 2024 and asked a few questions to the public, on a monthly subscription which would cost between 150 and 250 dollars for 8 to 16 races per month. For the moment, a minor is not allowed to travel alone aboard one of the fleet vehicles.
Some parents did not wait for this service. In San Francisco and Phoenix, some parents are already sending their children to school aboard a waymo when they have no right in theory. They trust the service and it is also practical for them. They could use Uber, present on this market with an offer for 13-17 year olds. That is to say a race, validated by the parents who follow the car’s journey in real time, or even hear what is happening inside the vehicle. The driver is not allowed to change the route. But that is not enough to reassure all families, especially given the number of complaints for inappropriate behavior or harassment against Uber drivers. In Phoenix, the local KTVK channel asked a teacher specializing in autonomous cars at the University of Arizona State. He understands that parents trust Waymo more than others. But questions arise. What does the child do in the event of an accident, for example?