Robotaxis and Safety Training for First Responders in U.S. Cities

The Governors Highway Safety Association and Waymo have announced an online safety training course for first responders engaging with Waymo vehicles. This training consists of three modules designed to educate law enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency medical services, and tow-truck operators about Waymo's robotaxis.

The modules include an introduction to Waymo's robotaxis, instructions on how to approach and interact with the vehicles, and safety procedures for extricating passengers or disconnecting a vehicle's battery.

Waymo operates fully autonomous vehicles in ten U.S. cities and plans to expand to twenty more cities by 2026. Waymo emphasizes the importance of first responders in maintaining roadway safety and has developed the training to ensure responders feel prepared when working around their vehicles.

The training supplements Waymo's existing hands-on training, instructional guides, and videos. Waymo's operations center staff can communicate with first responders to confirm that a vehicle will not move and provide guidance on how to disengage the system or disconnect power.

Additionally, Waymo offers a toll-free hotline for first responders and a QR code on the vehicle windows for direct contact. GHSA also provides a resource web page for first responders, highlighting the need for effective emergency responses as robotaxis become more prevalent in urban areas.