By Ira Boudway
(Bloomberg) – Waymo is pausing most operations in Arizona and California in response to the coronavirus outbreak, the company announced early Tuesday.
Alphabet’s self-driving car unit sent a message to riders saying that all trips in the Phoenix area with safety drivers in the front would cease, “in the interest of the health and safety of our riders.” Most of Waymo’s vehicles in Phoenix still operate with safety drivers.
The company said that its fully driverless operations in Phoenix would continue for now as would its delivery and trucking services. “Removing the human driver holds great promise for not only for making our roads safer, but for helping our riders stay healthy in these uncertain times,” the company’s statement said.
Waymo is also pausing its test driving in California.
