JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – As self-driving robotaxis expand across Florida, with Waymo now operating in Tampa, Orlando, and Miami, Jacksonville officials are weighing a potential expansion amid growing safety concerns from transportation analysts.
Jacksonville City Councilman Rory Diamond is advocating for bringing Waymo to the city, arguing it could save millions in transportation costs while potentially improving road safety.
However, safety experts urge caution, pointing to recent incidents involving autonomous vehicles in other states.
“For the price, each NAVI ride is costing us $360. That’s insane,” Diamond said, referring to Jacksonville’s current “driverless” transportation program. “We’ve spent $7 million on it. That could be, you know, 70,000 $10 Waymo rides or Tesla taxi rides. We can absolutely do it in Jacksonville.”
Safety concerns emerge
Recent incidents have raised questions about autonomous vehicle safety.
In Phoenix, a Waymo vehicle was captured on video driving on tram tracks toward an oncoming train.
In Texas, officials reported approximately 20 instances of Waymo vehicles passing stopped school buses over the past year.
“State governments need to make sure that all of the pieces are in place so that they can effectively make sure, one, that these technologies are safe and proven to be safe before they’re deployed on public roads, and that they also have the accountability structures in place for when something inevitably does go wrong,” said Cooper Lohr, Senior Policy Analyst for Transportation and Safety.
Emergency response challenges
A recent incident in Austin highlighted another potential concern.
During a mass shooting incident, a Waymo vehicle became immobilized and blocked emergency responders, raising questions about how autonomous vehicles handle emergency situations.
Regulatory hurdles
Florida’s current regulatory framework, established in 2019, creates a complex oversight structure.
While cities maintain authority over local roadway management, the regulation of autonomous vehicles falls under state jurisdiction.
Lohr, while not opposing autonomous vehicle technology, emphasizes the need for more comprehensive data before declaring robotaxis safer than human drivers.
“We need to ensure appropriate accountability structures are in place,” he said.
Next steps
For Jacksonville to welcome Waymo, several hurdles remain.
Diamond must secure support from the mayor’s office and navigate changes to city laws.
The proposal would potentially replace the city’s NAVI program with autonomous alternatives, which Diamond argues would promise significant cost savings.
The debate highlights a broader national conversation about balancing technological innovation with public safety as autonomous vehicles become increasingly prevalent on American roads.