Waymo’s service is expanding in Florida for the first time, allowing any resident or visitor to request a driverless ride in both Miami and Orlando through the company’s app.
This rollout introduces freeway routes within Miami for the first time and makes Waymo the only company offering commercial rides without a human operator on major interstate highways in the United States, according to Sandy Karp, a company spokesperson.
The decision represents a profound shift for urban transportation and raises questions about public trust in artificial intelligence applied to vehicles.
According to figures provided by Waymo itself, the autonomous driving system has been responsible for a 92% decrease in accidents resulting in serious or fatal injuries, compared to vehicles driven by humans under equivalent conditions, as reported by the Waymo team in its official statement.
Furthermore, the company has logged over 127 million miles traveled fully autonomously since November 2024, with no fatalities, according to Mark, a spokesperson for the tech company, in an interview with NBC 6.
Waymo, a Google subsidiary, began operating in pilot mode in South Florida over a year ago. Starting in January 2026, the company gradually enabled access for more than 150,000 users in Miami and Orlando through an interest list, before its full launch this week, according to information published by Waymo on its corporate blog and confirmed by NBC 6.
Currently, any traveler can download the Waymo app and request a robotaxi, with fares similar to those of conventional ride-hailing platforms.
The service already allows travel between neighborhoods and cities, but the main innovation in Miami is the addition of freeway routes, including Interstate 95, the Dolphin Expressway (SR 836), and the Palmetto Expressway (SR 826).
Those who wish to try these types of trips beforehand can sign up through the app for early access, the company detailed in its official statement. With this expansion, Miami joins Phoenix, San Francisco, and Los Angeles as the only U.S. cities with commercial robotaxis authorized for daily use on freeways and main roads.
In Orlando, Waymo’s coverage connects areas such as Parramore, Richmond Heights, Williamsburg, Florida Center, and Southwest Orlando, consolidating a presence in strategic corridors and residential areas.
The routes utilize a fleet equipped with 29 cameras, six radars, and five lidar systems, technology that allows for obstacle identification and real-time response to adverse conditions, such as tropical storms, the company specified.
The vehicles are completely driverless. Passengers can interact with the app to unlock doors, add destinations, and receive real-time human support if they experience problems or feel unsafe.
For Waymo, the key lies in data transparency and consistent results. “Safety is our number one priority,” Mark, a spokesperson for the tech company, emphasized to NBC 6.
The recorded metrics support the statistical difference compared to traditional driving: “We’ve driven over 127 million autonomous miles. In that distance, we’ve had 10 times fewer accidents with serious injuries, five times fewer collisions with injuries, five times fewer airbag deployments, and five times fewer pedestrian injuries,” he stated.
Waymo’s expansion into Miami and Orlando is based on field testing, adaptation to tropical climates, and collaboration with local safety authorities, according to the company’s official statement.
