Waymo’s future in Maryland uncertain after bill to regulate driverless vehicles fails in session
By Breana Ross
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BALTIMORE, Maryland (WBAL) — The future of Waymo and other self-driving cars in Maryland is uncertain after a bill failed to pass during the legislative session.
The bill would have regulated driverless vehicles and allowed Waymo to move forward with their self-driving ride-hailing service in the state.
Waymo vehicles have been navigating Baltimore streets for the past few months, including Boston Street in Canton, as part of their efforts to familiarize themselves with the area.
Despite the legislative setback, a spokesperson with Waymo said the company remains committed to its Baltimore plans.
In a statement, the spokesperson said: “We’ll continue laying the groundwork for our operations in Baltimore while we explore every available avenue to gain the regulatory confidence needed to invest millions of dollars in the jobs and infrastructure required to support our Baltimore operations. We want to bring our technology to the state of Maryland, and we’ve heard from people across the state who want access to the safety and accessibility benefits of our ride-hailing service.”
Ronza Othman, president of The National Federation of the Blind of Maryland, expressed her frustration over the bill’s failure.
“For us, it would have been a true game changer in terms of being able to move about our communities safely and independently,” Othman said.
Othman, who is blind, described the challenges she faces with traditional rideshare services.
“We have drivers of rideshares who deny us, who will pull up and see us and decide they are not going to take us. Sometimes they are very direct about it. Sometimes they are not,” Othman said. “So, to have the ability to get to where we need to go quickly without having to be denied a ride, without having a human and the inherent biases that humans have would have been, and will be when this bill ultimately does get passed, an absolute game changer in terms of our independence. And being able to get jobs and keep jobs and get to doctors’ appointments and dialysis and everything from independent employment to health and safety to just socialization.”
Baltimore County Delegate Nick Allen, D-District 8, is one of the co-sponsors of House Bill 1295, which did not make it past the Environment and Transportation Committee.
“I think with anything like this, whether it’s in my committee, there’s always a lot of issues when it comes to newer technology, or new issues that come along with technology. Honestly, it takes a few tries in the General Assembly for my colleagues and I to collectively kind of wrap our minds around it to understand possible future implications of it and have these discussions with the different groups that are impacted,” Allen said.
The bill faced opposition from groups concerned about potential job losses.
“I also know that there are a lot of concerns from a lot of the unions, people who represent some of the ride-sharing companies — even the taxi cab drivers. Teamsters I know had some concerns,” Allen said.
Othman said the bill’s failure is a setback.
“We just feel utterly devastated and betrayed,” Othman said.
Still, Othman said it is not the end of the road for Waymo’s Baltimore operation.
“We are not going anywhere, and we are going to fight until it’s here,” Othman said. “This is a disability equity and civil rights issue, and no civil rights movement ever ended because the General Assembly or the legislature initially said no or refused to act. We will keep educating them. We will keep working with the community partners. We will keep working with the industry. We will keep working with drivers and others until we get across the finish line, because it’s going to be a win for everybody in the state of Maryland.”
Allen said he anticipates the bill will be revisited in the next legislative session.
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