Feeling, Waymo | Local news

Waymo started driving for employees in parts of the San Mateo main area last May in the northern part of the peninsula and expanded his public ravage service to Daly City, Colma and Broadmoor in August. Since then, according to the California Ministry for motor vehicles, there have been two collision reports with Waymo in the San Mateo district. One occurred in Brisbane in February, but according to the report, the incident was low and did not seem to be initiated by the Waymo car. The other occurred in South City in October and did not appear by Waymo. In nationwide, around 45 collision reports with Waymo have been reported to the DMV since August 2024.

Dave Canepa, President of the San Mateo County Supervisor, was loud in his concerns about Waymo’s expansion last year, but is now a common user and supporter of the cars.

“I have a thousand problems and Waymo is none of them,” said Canepa. “Waymo really strengthened her game … I take Waymo once a week and feel very safe.”

While some residents are still skeptical, many have also come into the new technology. Juda Tolmasoff, who lives in San Mateo, has not yet introduced a driverless taxi that mainly relies on public transport, but said she understands why it appeals for others.

“I am a senior citizens, so the Clipper card is very economical for me,” said Tolmasoff. “I have the luxury to do it because I have the time to do it. If people need access to other alternatives, if it makes their life less stressful, I’m happy for you and I am happy for me that I have my bus and it works for myself.”

Millbrae Carble Cheung said that he was concerned about earlier situations in which Tesla Autopilot settings may have caused accidents, but he was pleasantly surprised at how much safer he feels in a Waymo compared to an Uber or Lyft.

“If Waymo has an accident, it will become big news and everything falls apart,” said Cheung. “It makes some strange mistakes if it does not know (certain things), but over time it gets better … I felt much safer in Waymo with my wife and daughter than with my Uber driver who constantly looked at her phone.”

Nevertheless, he knows that there can be restrictions and learning curves. For example, there are many suburban two-way streets with cars on each side. Human drivers know that a driver should drive aside to keep the other on such a narrow street, but autonomous vehicles may have more difficulties.

“Until something better or something terrible happens, this is the reality where we are,” said Cheung. “It is still new technology and the culture of San Francisco and the Greater Bay Area to accept and take over this new form of transport. I think it worked great.”