Waymo expanding throughout San Mateo County

Sentiment toward autonomous vehicles has seemed to grow more favorably among many elected officials, who were previously concerned with the company’s alleged lack of communication with the county. 

The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors was vocal in its pursuit to gain more local control over how autonomous vehicles were deployed in its jurisdictions, passing a resolution in support of Senate Bill 915, which aimed to entrust cities with more authority over AV operations. It had also filed an amicus brief in support of San Francisco’s decision to sue the California Public Utilities Commission over the regulator’s decision to approve Waymo and Cruise expansion.

Federal lawmakers, such as U.S. Rep. Kevin Mullin, D-South San Francisco and former U.S. Rep. Anna Eshoo had also penned a letter to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, requesting more in-depth reporting requirements for autonomous vehicles.

In April, San Mateo County Supervisor David Canepa said Waymo “has really stepped up their game” and that he is now a frequent user. 

Millbrae Mayor Anders Fung said his main concern with Waymo’s recent expansion is whether it would be accessible for the city’s most vulnerable residents including seniors. 

“Autonomous vehicles will certainly enhance traffic safety, and anything that is software based will only get better over time. In general, I am encouraged to see AV driving become more available,” Fung said. “I just want to make sure they’re affordable to seniors … especially those who require mobility assistance. That’s what I’m mostly interested in.”

He added that AV ride-hailing can also limit car accidents, including drinking and driving incidents, in addition to reducing congestion. 

Between May 2024 and April 2025, according to data from the California Department of Motor Vehicles, there have been two collision reports involving Waymo in San Mateo County. One occurred in February in Brisbane, according to the report, however, the incident was minor and did not appear to be initiated by the Waymo car. The other occurred in South San Francisco in October and also did not appear initiated by Waymo. Statewide, about 45 collision reports involving Waymo have been reported to the DMV between August 2024 and April 2025. 

“We all need to look at these things through a factual lens,” Fung said. “Anytime there is new technology, people are naturally concerned, but the statistics need to speak for themselves, and then people can make up their mind about it.”

But while AV ride-hailing vehicles can enhance transportation access for many, South San Francisco Councilmember James Coleman said he still has concerns over public safety and how it could affect Uber and Lyft drivers in the future. 

“My biggest concern is how they react with emergency vehicles. We want to make sure the software is able to recognize those situations, and I’m not sure if it’s there yet, but the more you train the program the better it is,” Coleman said. “I don’t want us to be a testing ground, but I am cautiously optimistic.”