Waymo Launches Teen Account Program for Automated Rides

News Summary

Waymo has launched a new program allowing teenagers aged 14 to 17 to use its automated robotaxi service in Phoenix. Effective July 9, the initiative aims to provide safer transportation options for younger riders. Teens must link their accounts to a parent’s account for tracking, and real-time updates will be communicated. The program follows successful testing and aims to enhance safety, allowing more freedom for teens while easing parental concerns. This move aligns with a trend of decreasing traditional driver’s license acquisition among Generation Z.

Phoenix — Waymo has officially launched a new teen account program that allows teenagers aged 14 to 17 to utilize its automated robotaxi service, effective July 9, 2025. This expansion of service aims to provide safer transportation alternatives for young riders across the 315 square mile metro area of Phoenix.

To access the service, teens must link their accounts to a parent or guardian’s account, ensuring that parents can track their child’s rides. Real-time updates and ride receipts will also be provided to parents for all trips made by their teens. Waymo has implemented specially trained Rider Support agents available to assist teen riders during their journeys, which enhances safety and provides peace of mind to families.

The introduction of this program comes after a successful test phase in Phoenix, where the service received positive feedback from parents for its convenience and the independence it affords their teenagers. Many parents expressed their gratitude for the new options, highlighting how it allows their children more freedom while maintaining safety.

Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control indicate that teen drivers are involved in fatal crashes at rates approximately three times higher than older drivers. In contrast, Waymo’s automated vehicles show significant advantages in safety; data from up to March 2025 reveals an 88% reduction in serious injury crashes and a 78% reduction in injury-causing crashes compared to average human driver statistics. The launch of the teen account program is therefore seen as an innovative step toward ensuring the safety of younger individuals on the road.

Additionally, this development aligns with broader trends indicating that Generation Z is less likely to obtain traditional driver’s licenses and increasingly prefers rideshare services and public transit. The potential for Waymo to expand this program into additional markets is already under consideration, reflecting a forward-thinking approach to urban mobility.

Waymo’s operational footprint is extensive, providing over 250,000 paid rides weekly across various cities, including Phoenix, San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Austin, Texas. Future expansions to Miami and Washington D.C. are anticipated in 2026, further enhancing access to automated transportation services.

In June 2025, Waymo announced intentions to operate vehicles in New York with a trained specialist behind the wheel, which signifies ongoing efforts to innovate and adapt to the varying transportation needs of urban populations.

As the program has been prepared with a focus on safety, Waymo has emphasized the importance of technical support. Younger riders may not navigate certain traffic situations as effectively as adults, which is why measures have been implemented to assist them during their trips.

The launch of Waymo’s teen account program follows a similar initiative by Uber, which has allowed teens to use its ride-hailing service. As the transportation landscape evolves, Waymo’s advancements in automated driving technology offer a glimpse into the future, while providing parents with tools to keep their children safe on the roads.

Security researchers first noted Waymo’s endeavors toward creating accounts for teenagers earlier this year, and now the program stands as a response to the ongoing demand for accessible and safe transit alternatives for younger generations. The initiative is part of a larger move by tech companies to adapt to changing transportation behaviors among younger Americans.

As Waymo continues to conduct research and development in automatic vehicle operations and rideshare services, this launch marks an important milestone in bridging age gaps in commuter options, making journeys for teens safer and more reliable.

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