LOS ANGELES (KTLA) — Robotaxis are taking a big step for any young driver: They’re taking on Los Angeles freeways.

Waymo vehicles, which have already been operating in Los Angeles, will now drive the freeways as well, though the service will be limited to employees of the company at first, Waymo announced on X, formerly Twitter.

The company told KTLA that four freeways will be part of the initial rollout: the 10, 110, 405 and 90.

In its social media post, the company included a short video showing how using freeways can cut the time it takes to drive from Santa Monica to downtown Los Angeles in half.

The autonomous nature of the vehicles has drawn its share of praise and criticism.

Angeleno Thomas Nagano told KTLA that “they’re a lot safer than anything else on the road because they have three different methods of identifying problems on the road,” referencing the cars’ use of cameras, sensors and radar.

Others, like Chris Korn of Venice Beach, said they still don’t feel comfortable about the idea of being in a car without a human driver.

“I still don’t trust the technology. It’s a little more questionable without that driver in the car,” he said.

CHP Officer Roberto Gomez told KTLA’s Carlos Herrera that drivers should treat Waymo vehicles as just another car, and they should stop if there happens to be a collision. Waymo should then contact the other driver through the vehicle.

“It’s just like a regular crash. Something happens and it’s staying on scene and resolving whatever the incident [is] that occurred,” he said.

Some in Los Angeles haven’t been so calm, even going so far as to trash a Waymo vehicle.

A suspect was arrested for allegedly holding an elderly man hostage before leading deputies on a pursuit in Riverside County.

The suspect was identified as Jason Wright, 42, of Cherry Valley, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office.

On Tuesday, deputies responded to a robbery at a home on the 39000 block of Lincoln Street in Cherry Valley at 3:15 p.m.

The victim, only identified as an elderly man, told deputies he was tied up and threatened at knifepoint by Wright.

Wright allegedly stole the victim’s vehicle and sped away before deputies arrived.

Authorities searched the area and spotted Wright at a restaurant drive-thru near 6th Street and Highland Springs Avenue in Beaumont. When he noticed the patrol cars, he reversed his vehicle, drove over a curb and back onto the street to escape.

Deputies eventually lost sight of his vehicle. With the help of Beaumont Police and the Riverside Sheriff’s Aviation unit, he was later found driving on dirt roads near California Avenue and Lamb Canyon Road. 

Wright refused to yield and led officers on a chase before driving into a dead end. He ditched the vehicle and fled on foot, but was eventually captured.

He was arrested for robbery, kidnapping, false imprisonment of an elder, vehicle theft, and probation violation.

The incident remains under investigation. Anyone with additional information is asked to call Investigator Jimenez at 951-776-1099 or the Cabazon Sheriff’s Station at 951-922-7100.

Taco Bell will not be holding its second annual Live Mas LIVE event at the Hollywood Palladium on Tuesday as announced last month.

The company decided to postpone the event due to the L.A. County wildfires.

“To ensure the focus remains on the ongoing recovery and rebuilding efforts, we are postponing our upcoming Live Más LIVE 2025 and investor events to prioritize the safety and well-being of Los Angeles residents and the surrounding community,” a statement on the company website said.

Taco Bell held its first Live Mas Live event during Super Bowl weekend last year to announce upcoming menu plans.

The company didn’t announce when the postponed event would take place, but did outline how Yum! Brands, Taco Bell’s parent company, and its sister brands supported L.A. County amid the wildfires.

The support included a $250,000 donation to the Red Cross Disaster Responder Program.

Taco Bell and The Habit Burger & Grill, the latter of which is based in Irvine, have also sent food trucks to feed first responders.