Waymo is now asking adult riders to verify their age, a move that targets a specific problem: kids riding alone in driverless cars.
Adult users report seeing new age-verification prompts when hailing Waymo rides in certain cities. The company says it's continuing to "refine" its system in places where unaccompanied minors aren't allowed. Waymo's terms of service have long barred solo children, but enforcement has been spotty — until now.
This is straightforward risk management. A serious incident involving a child alone in an autonomous vehicle would be a regulatory and PR nightmare for a company still trying to convince cities it's safe enough to expand. The checks also signal Waymo is willing to inconvenience adult riders to close a loophole that apparently persisted despite existing rules.
Other ride-hail services have similar age restrictions, but they rely on human drivers to enforce them. Waymo has no driver to refuse service, so it needs automated checks — or it risks becoming the test case for how not to handle minors in driverless cars.