2 robotaxi services seeking to bypass safety concerns and expand in San Francisco face pivotal vote

By MICHAEL LIEDTKE
AP Technology Writer

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — California regulators are poised to decide whether two rival robotaxi services can provide around-the-clock rides throughout San Francisco. The decision comes as recurring incidents have caused the driverless vehicles to block traffic or imperil public safety in the city. The expansions sought by robotaxi services Cruise and Waymo are up for a vote scheduled for Thursday. If approved by state regulators, San Francisco will become the first major U.S. city with two fleets of driverless vehicles competing for passengers against ride-hailing and taxi services dependent on humans to operate the cars. It’s a distinction San Francisco officials don’t want, largely because of the headaches the robotaxis have been causing during their testing phase.