Robotaxis train for London's zebra crossings ahead of planned rollout

Waymo has been manually driving a fleet of about 24 cars around London to learn local features such as zebra crossings while awaiting secondary UK legislation; the Department for Transport intends a passenger piloting scheme this spring, subject to safety rules and local consent.

Waymo has been manually driving a fleet of driverless cars around London so the vehicles can learn local road features and signals. The cars have been focusing on zebra crossings and other local nuances. Each vehicle is equipped with cameras, radar and lidar sensors. The company is waiting for secondary legislation before passenger services can begin. Key points: - Waymo has about 24 cars in London and has spent the last two months manually steering them to learn local features, including zebra crossings. - The vehicles use cameras, radar and lidar and include Jaguar models that were built in Europe, fitted with Waymo technology in the US, then shipped to the UK, and are left-hand drive. - Waymo hopes to begin carrying paying customers in the last quarter of this year, which would be its first rollout outside the US. - The Automated Vehicles Act received assent in 2024 but secondary legislation is still required to allow the vehicles to operate on UK streets. - The Department for Transport said it intends to launch a passenger piloting scheme in spring, subject to safety requirements and consent from local transport authorities. - The Licensed Taxi Drivers' Association has voiced opposition, and Transport for London has flagged uncertainty about how risk profiles, congestion and accessibility might change. Summary: The training is presented as preparation for operating in London's denser streets and for handling features such as Belisha-beacon marked zebra crossings. The government plans a passenger piloting scheme in spring, but operators must wait for secondary legislation and local approvals before paid services can begin.