Group Launched Campaign to Bring Waymo to New York

A nonprofit advocacy group has started a new television campaign to promote driverless robotaxis across the state.

Updated on Sept. 20, 2026 in Robotics

Isometric editorial illustration of a sensor array on a vehicle roof, representing autonomous transit technology infrastructure. — Advocacy group A Better Road Forward has launched a campaign to push for the authorization of fully driverless robotaxis across New York state. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The nonprofit A Better Road Forward has launched a television advertising campaign aimed at voters to support the introduction of Waymo driverless robotaxis in New York. The group argues that autonomous vehicles can improve transportation access and safety for residents throughout the state.

Why it matters

The campaign aims to shift public and political perception on autonomous driving technology, specifically contrasting robotaxi performance with existing vehicle safety statistics. This push follows a rejection by Governor Kathy Hochul regarding a previous proposal to expand Waymo operations into upstate New York.

Waymo reports a nationwide injury crash rate of 0.712 per million miles, which the nonprofit claims is 62% lower than the 1.871 per million miles rate recorded by New York City taxis and for-hire vehicles.

The players

A Better Road Forward

This is a nonprofit organization that advocates for the adoption of autonomous vehicle technology to enhance public safety and transportation accessibility.

Kathy Hochul

As the Governor of New York, she holds the executive authority to influence state transportation policy and has previously rejected plans for robotaxi expansion.

Waymo

This autonomous driving technology company operates a fleet of vehicles that currently utilize human drivers while operating within New York City.

The details

While Waymo currently operates in New York City, its fleet still requires human drivers behind the wheel after the company's autonomous pilot program ended in March 2026. The advocacy group plans to host informational meetings statewide to build support and pressure the state Department of Transportation and DMV to authorize new pilot programs.

March 2026: Waymo's autonomous pilot program in New York City concluded.
August 2026: Anti-robotaxi organizations issued a report containing crash data analysis.
September 2026: The advocacy group initiated its television advertising campaign.

Roadmap

The push by A Better Road Forward highlights the competitive tension between autonomous technology developers and state regulators navigating the New York State DMV autonomous vehicle pilot program regulations. This effort marks a strategic attempt to shift the trajectory of transit policy toward full automation despite previous executive pushback.

If these advocacy efforts succeed in securing new pilot authorizations, residents could eventually see fully driverless vehicles operating on local streets without human attendants. This change would shift current transportation options and likely influence the availability of for-hire vehicle services across the state.

The takeaway

The debate over robotaxi safety hinges on complex statistical comparisons between autonomous systems and human-driven fleets. Residents interested in the future of local transportation should track upcoming state Department of Transportation informational sessions for potential policy updates.