Advocacy Campaign Pushed for New York Robotaxis
A nonprofit group has launched a statewide campaign to bring driverless Waymo vehicles to New York’s public roads.
Updated on Sept. 20, 2026 in Robotics
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The nonprofit A Better Road Forward has initiated a television advertising campaign in New York to advocate for the deployment of driverless Waymo robotaxis. This effort follows the conclusion of Waymo’s previous autonomous pilot program in New York City in March 2026.
Why it matters
The group aims to address transportation access and safety by integrating autonomous systems into the state's existing transit framework. This advocacy arrives amid ongoing scrutiny of robotaxi performance and regulatory hurdles in the New York market.
Waymo’s nationwide injury crash rate of 0.712 per million miles is 62% lower than the 1.871 rate reported for New York City taxis and for-hire vehicles. An August 2026 report from anti-robotaxi groups initially challenged such data before retracting a claim regarding three total crashes.
The players
A Better Road Forward
A nonprofit organization advocating for the adoption of autonomous vehicles to improve transit safety and access.
Waymo
An autonomous driving technology company developing sensor-laden vehicle stacks and mapping software for driverless transportation.
Kathy Hochul
The Governor of New York who previously rejected a planned expansion of driverless testing in upstate New York.
The details
Companies seeking to operate autonomous fleets must submit applications for pilot programs through the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and the local Department of Transportation. While Waymo vehicles currently operate within New York City, they require human drivers behind the wheel at all times. The advocacy group plans to host informational meetings across the state to build support for moving beyond these current requirements.
Timeline
March 2026: Waymo’s autonomous pilot program in New York City concluded.
August 2026: Anti-robotaxi groups published a report containing crash data that was later retracted.
September 2026: A Better Road Forward launched its television advertising campaign.
The Tech Race
This campaign serves as a public push to influence how state authorities apply existing autonomous vehicle pilot program guidelines. It positions autonomous deployment against the established safety metrics of the traditional for-hire vehicle industry in New York.
Residents should expect to see an increase in television advertising regarding autonomous transit as the group hosts informational meetings across New York. These efforts aim to eventually shift current vehicle operations from human-driven to driverless systems, though no state approval timeline exists.
The takeaway
The campaign highlights a growing tension between autonomous safety benchmarks and local regulatory skepticism. Residents should monitor future state Department of Transportation filings for any changes to the current requirements for autonomous testing permits.
Further reading
For more on the state of autonomous fleet deployment, visit the Robotics section.
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