In 2024, self-driving cars have gone from an idea to a reality. In February, the California Public Utilities Commission gave the autonomous vehicle company Waymo approval to operate its self-driving service, known as “Waymo One,” on Los Angeles’ streets. The same month, a Waymo car accidentally crashed into a closing gate while attempting to leave University Park Campus. 

Waymo began in 2009 as a project by Google but eventually became its division of Google’s parent company, Alphabet. On Waymo’s website, the company claims its cars are safer than human-driven vehicles. 

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In July, a Waymo One car caused a pileup while braking in an attempt to avoid a branch in Tempe, Arizona, resulting in the passenger attaining minor injuries. This is one of 18 incidents Waymo has caused in the last two years, according to the technology website VentureBeat.

Waymo reports statistics that show that, in the context of the few accidents its cars have been in, they’re still safer than human drivers: Waymo is 6.8 times less likely to be involved in an incident that results in injuries and 57% less likely to report incidents to the police.

USC crossing guard Tarika Benson said she’s seen Waymos around campus recently. She said she’s concerned for students who enter the road without paying attention. 

“It was a throw-off at first because I didn’t even know it was a self-driving car until somebody told me,” Benson said.

One student shared a discomfort with Waymo while additionally expressing a curiosity about the experience of being driven in one.“I want to be in one to see what it feels like, but they are a little scary,” said Mackenzie Currie, a freshman majoring in musical theatre. 

Nadia Sayegh, a freshman majoring in neuroscience, said there could be a possible economic impact, as many people use companies such as Uber and Lyft as a way to make an income. 

“The technology [these companies] are developing is really cool, but it’s important to consider the jobs we are taking away from people,” Sayegh said.

The company plans to continue to scale its fleet of robotaxis from Santa Monica to downtown L.A. 

Correction (March 25 at 1:07 p.m.) : A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that Waymo began in the fall of 2015  and that Waymo was 57% more likely to report incidents to the police. The project that became Waymo began in 2009, and Waymo is 57% less likely to report incidents to the police. A previous version of this article also stated that a Waymo One car caused a pileup that resulted in two people being injured in Phoenix, Arizona. In July, a Waymo One car caused a pileup while braking in an attempt to avoid a branch in Tempe, Arizona, resulting in the passenger attaining minor injuries. The Daily Trojan regrets these errors.