Self-Driving Taxi Company Considers Offering Rides for Kids

Could self-driving taxis be the solution to the logistical nightmare of the school run for full-time working parents?

The idea certainly has potential, and according to the San Francisco Standard, is being actively considered by Waymo in the Bay Area.

It has revealed how the company has been canvassing opinions on whether customers would be interested in such a service. 

Currently, riders have to be 18 or older to travel alone in one of the company’s robotaxis. Those under 18 are permitted to ride with family members or other adults as long as their parents or guardians have given their consent.

However, earlier this year, riders were quizzed on how they felt about the idea of a Waymo Teen program that would “offer teens a chance to get around safely, giving them the freedom to go wherever they need to go without relying on a grown-up for a ride. And at the same time, parents have more time — no more driving kids all over town.”

The survey was made available online by a Reddit user and went on to explain how the idea might work.

It explained: “You set up your teen’s Waymo account on their phone and connect it to a credit card for payment. Your teen requests a Waymo ride through the Waymo One app. When the Waymo arrives at their location, only your teen can unlock it using the app. Waymo then takes them to the location they entered.”

Related:Waymo Shows New Generation of Self-Driving Technology

Parents would be alerted to drop-offs and pick-ups and several different pricing structures were proposed, ranging from a basic levy of $150 a month for eight rides, with no human monitoring and no map sharing, to a top-spec $250 a month for 16 rides and both of those features.

The San Francisco Standard has also reported that even though there is no official service in place, some parents in the city are taking advantage of the self-driving taxis to ferry their kids around.

It quoted one, who wished to remain anonymous to protect their Waymo account, saying: “It was instantly awesome. We don’t have to worry about her [the user’s daughter] getting home, ever.”

Reaction elsewhere online to the place has been decidedly mixed, though, with the United Kingdom’s Daily Mail describing the idea as “Rich, time-poor San Francisco parents’ shocking solution to getting their kids to school.”

Waymo has confirmed it is researching the idea and said feedback has been promising, but there is no plan in place yet for Waymo Teen to be formally introduced.

Clearly, though, the company is looking for innovative new ways to scale, after CEO Tekedra Makwkana revealed on X that the firm has reached another notable milestone. She posted: “We’re building a safer future one ride at a time and I’m thrilled to share that we've just surpassed 100,000 paid trips per week!”

The firm is also preparing for the launch of its next-generation Waymo Driver tech.