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Alphabet-owned Waymo announced plans Tuesday to launch its driverless taxi service in Washington, D.C., in 2026, but must first convince city officials to change laws that require human drivers.
The self-driving company began moving vehicles to D.C. in January and will bring more soon. Before offering rides without safety drivers, Waymo must work with local authorities to change rules that don’t allow fully self-driving cars in the district.
“We will also work closely with policymakers to formalize the legal framework needed to operate without a human behind the wheel, as Washington, D.C., does not currently allow for fully autonomous operations,” Waymo said in its announcement.
The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) acknowledged Waymo’s plans and confirmed it’s developing a framework for safe autonomous vehicle testing.
“DDOT is actively developing a permitting framework to support the safe and responsible testing of autonomous vehicles,” said German Vigil, DDOT spokesperson. “Current law requires an operator behind the wheel and does not allow driverless commercial operations.”
Waymo One already provides more than 200,000 paid trips weekly in San Francisco, Phoenix, Los Angeles, and Austin. The company has given over 4 million paid rides and plans to expand to Atlanta and Miami before D.C.
The company says its cars are safer than human drivers. After 50 million self-driving miles, reports conclude 81% fewer crashes causing injuries compared to human drivers.
Jonathan Adkins, who leads the Governors Highway Safety Association and lives in D.C., supports Waymo’s plans. “I’ve experienced firsthand how safely the Waymo Driver operates around pedestrians, cyclists, and other vulnerable road users,” said Adkins. “As someone who walks to work almost every day, I’m excited to share the road with Waymo.”
Waymo faces competition from companies like Zoox, while others have failed. General Motors closed its Cruise taxi service last December. Tesla hasn’t launched its promised self-driving taxis.
In May 2024, safety officials began investigating Waymo after 22 reports of driving problems, including 17 crashes. Some crashes involved “collisions with clearly visible objects that a competent driver would be expected to avoid.”
Safety officials began investigating Waymo in May 2024. They received 22 reports of driving problems, including 17 crashes. Some crashes were “collisions with clearly visible objects that a competent driver would be expected to avoid.”
Waymo recalled 672 cars in June 2024 after one hit a utility pole. The company recalled 444 more cars in February 2024 for software problems that affected predictions of towed vehicle movements.
The service will only operate in D.C. itself, not in Maryland or Virginia suburbs. This means riders won’t be able to take Waymo to regional airports.
This expansion comes as states create different rules for self-driving cars. The federal government has provided little guidance, creating inconsistent regulations nationwide.
