Waymo is expanding its self-driving car services significantly, now covering the entire San Francisco Bay Area and preparing for operations in cities like Phoenix, Los Angeles, and San Diego by 2026. The company aims to provide driverless rides on freeways, a move that raises concerns because their autonomous vehicles must adhere to technical speed limits, which could hinder performance compared to human drivers. Regulatory changes may be needed to allow these cars to operate at average traffic speeds for safety and efficiency. A major challenge for Waymo is scaling its fleet. The options include retrofitting older models, paying hefty tariffs on new imports, or ramping up production of Hyundai vehicles, which is seen as the most promising route. However, large-scale production of Hyundai models may not happen until 2027. Meanwhile, Waymo plans to launch driverless testing in several new cities, including Dallas, Miami, and New Orleans, with the goal of offering commercial services in at least 17 cities by the end of next year. Political and regulatory hurdles also loom. In Washington, D.C., local council members are raising safety concerns that could delay Waymo's entry, despite evidence showing that autonomous vehicles are statistically safer than human drivers. Some advocates are pushing for federal preemption of state and municipal laws to streamline the deployment of self-driving technology, arguing that local governments could hinder progress with restrictive policies. Public sentiment about autonomous vehicles varies, especially in Europe, where there’s skepticism about the need for driverless cars. Waymo encountered issues during a recent power outage in San Francisco, where some cars halted or operated conservatively, causing traffic disruptions. The company had protocols in place to handle dark traffic signals by treating intersections as four-way stops, but the backlog of requests led to delays. Waymo's response indicates a cautious approach to safety, even if it results in temporary service suspensions.