San Francisco Parents Flout Regulations by Letting Teens Ride Solo in Robotaxis
In a striking trend among affluent families in San Francisco, parents are increasingly permitting their teenage children to travel alone in autonomous robotaxis. This practice directly contravenes both California state regulations and the explicit policies of the companies operating these vehicles, which mandate that riders must be at least 18 years old unless accompanied by an adult.
Waymo Emerges as the Preferred Choice for Unaccompanied Teen Travel
The overwhelming majority of these solo journeys are being booked through Waymo, the leading autonomous vehicle company in the United States and a subsidiary of Alphabet. With its largest fleet of driverless cars deployed in San Francisco, Waymo has established a significant presence in the city over several years. This longevity has fostered a sense of familiarity and comfort among residents, who have grown accustomed to being transported by vehicles without human drivers.
Parents with the financial means to spend substantial sums on individual trips—often dozens of dollars—are willingly allowing their children, some as young as 11, to ride unescorted. Laura Mancuso, a local parent who regularly hails Waymo vehicles for her 15-year-old daughter, explained the rationale behind this decision to the San Francisco Chronicle. 'We just realized it would make our lives easier,' she stated. 'My daughter grew up around Waymo. I don’t think she had any hesitation about riding by herself. And in my peer group, it’s become totally acceptable to call a Waymo for your teen.'
Convenience and Safety Perceptions Override Legal and Policy Concerns
Despite clear violations of both Waymo's terms of service and California law, many wealthy and busy parents are undeterred. They perceive minimal risk of being caught and highly value the convenience and peace of mind that robotaxis provide. These parents often view autonomous vehicles as safer and more reliable alternatives to public transportation or allowing a newly licensed 16-year-old to drive. Additionally, they consider robotaxis superior to human-driven ride-hail services like Uber, as they eliminate concerns about leaving teenage daughters alone with a stranger.
Megan Schmidt, another San Francisco mother who frequently books Waymo rides for her 14-year-old daughter and 11-year-old son, told the San Francisco Chronicle that the practice has 'really become part of our culture.' She noted that using robotaxis instead of personally driving her children has freed up significant time, allowing her to relax and socialise with other parents.
Waymo Faces a Complex Dilemma Regarding Enforcement and Growth
This phenomenon presents a double-edged sword for Waymo. On one hand, the company risks legal repercussions and reputational damage if it ignores unaccompanied minors using its services. On the other hand, teenagers who use Waymo regularly are more likely to become lifelong customers, potentially driving future growth.
Enforcing the chaperone policy proves challenging. Although Waymo's vehicles are equipped with internal cameras, accurately determining a passenger's age through images or video alone is unreliable. The company also strives to respect customer privacy, meaning that human monitoring of camera feeds typically occurs only during emergencies.
Waymo is acutely aware of the issue. Jack Stoddard, an attorney for the company, acknowledged during a California Public Utilities Commission proceeding: 'There are instances we are aware of, as some of them are publicly reported, where parents have used Waymos for transportation of minors.' He emphasised that such actions breach the company's terms of service and could result in account suspensions.
Pilot Program in Phoenix Responds to Growing Demand for Teen Access
In response to clear demand for allowing teenagers to ride robotaxis independently, Waymo launched a pilot programme last year in Phoenix, Arizona. This initiative permits parents to link their accounts to those of their children aged between 14 and 17, providing a regulated framework for teen travel.
A Waymo spokesperson commented to the San Francisco Chronicle: 'We have received significant interest from families to allow teenagers to ride independently, and we’re working to make this available where applicable laws allow.' The spokesperson added that hundreds of families in Phoenix currently utilise the teen account programme, which offers 'teens needed independence, parents time back, and everyone peace of mind.'
The Daily Mail has reached out to Waymo for further comment on this evolving situation.
