Waymo is adding teen accounts for autonomous vehicle rides without parents

Waymo has introduced an option for teen accounts, allowing young passengers to take rides in its driverless robotaxis without adult supervision. The program is only available in metropolitan Phoenix for now, but the company said it plans to offer the service in other cities down the line.

Teen riders are added to a regular Waymo account and all ride receipts go to that adult. Ride information can also be shared with a parent for real-time updates. The program is available for teens aged 14 to 17, and up to four passengers can share a robotaxi with a teen rider as long as they are all older than 14. Waymo is also promising that its support team has been trained to handle these younger customers and to know when a parent needs to be contacted.

Rideshare platforms such as Uber have been offering access for teenagers to get around without a parent or guardian. Driverless cars may be a more appealing option for parents since there's no unknown driver alone with their children; Waymo has highlighted that angle on its website.