  Waymo's safety methodologies, which draw on well established engineering
processes and address new safety challenges specific to Automated Vehicle
technology, provide a firm foundation for safe deployment of Waymo's Level 4
ADS, which Waymo also refers to as the Waymo Driver. Waymo's determination of
its readiness to deploy its AVs safely in different settings rests on that firm
foundation and on a thorough analysis of risks specific to a particular
Operational Design Domain. Waymo's process for making these readiness
determinations entails an ordered examination of the relevant outputs from all
of its safety methodologies combined with careful safety and engineering
judgment focused on the specific facts relevant for a particular determination.
Waymo will approve when it determines the ADS is ready for the new conditions
without creating any unreasonable risks to safety. This paper explains Waymo's
methodologies as applied to the three layers of its technology: hardware, ADS
behavior, and operations, and also explains Waymo's safety governance. Waymo
will continue to apply and adapt those methodologies, and to learn from the
important contributions of others in the AV industry, as Waymo continues to
build an ever safer and more able ADS.
