Toronto may soon see the introduction of self-driving cars on its streets, potentially offering a solution to gridlock frustrations. Waymo, an autonomous taxi operator, has recently entered Toronto’s lobbyist registry with the aim of advocating for new regulations that would pave the way for self-driving car services in the city. Ethan Teicher, a spokesperson for Waymo, stated that the company is actively engaging with Canadian officials to promote their technology and push for legal frameworks that would enable the launch of their fully autonomous ride-hailing service in Canada.
While discussions regarding Waymo’s operations in Toronto have not commenced, according to city spokesperson Saira Virani, there have been no recorded communications between lobbyists and the city thus far. Waymo, a Silicon Valley-based company under Alphabet, Google’s parent company, currently operates in regions like the San Francisco Bay Area, Phoenix, and Los Angeles, with plans to expand to London, U.K.
Steven Waslander, the director of the University of Toronto’s robotics and AI laboratory, expressed surprise at Waymo’s swift interest in entering the Canadian market, particularly given the challenges of operating in cold climates. He highlighted the need for Waymo to address the unique obstacles posed by winter driving conditions, such as decreased traction and potential vehicle malfunctions.
Notably, Toronto has had prior encounters with automated vehicles (AVs) on its roads. Magna International conducted tests of self-driving delivery trucks in select Toronto neighborhoods last summer, albeit with limited success. The city raised concerns about the AVs’ performance issues, including difficulties with right turns at red lights, abrupt stops, malfunctioning signals, and unexpected system reboots.
Despite Waymo’s push for regulatory approval, the company has faced its own set of challenges, including a recent recall due to incidents involving its self-driving vehicles. Despite these setbacks, Waymo’s chief safety officer emphasized the company’s commitment to addressing safety concerns and improving vehicle performance.
Looking ahead, while the adoption of autonomous vehicles seems inevitable, the success of their integration will hinge on effective execution and public acceptance. Steven Waslander stressed the importance of transparency in monitoring the performance of self-driving vehicles to ensure a smooth transition towards their widespread adoption.