LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Lyft is bringing back a unique service to the Las Vegas valley -- self-driving cars.
The fleet was paused earlier this year due to COVID-19, but now it's back with enhanced protective measures.
Officials with Motional, the company that operates the self-driving fleet for Lyft, say research shows about 70% of consumers are reconsidering their transportation options to accommodate for things like social distancing.
The self-driving cars in Las Vegas do still have an operator for now, but officials say it will not be long until they'll be completely self-operating.
"Before the pandemic [self-driving vehicles] meant crash avoidance," said Abe Ghabra, head of U.S. operations at Motional. "Now, it means we limit the risk of exposure to this virus."
As the company relaunches its self-driving fleet, vehicles now include a clear partition between the front and rear seats. Before each shift, the operators must confirm they're not experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms.
Passengers are also asked to follow safety guidelines, and masks are required during the ride.
If you want to give the self-driving cars a try, select "self-driving" from the Lyft app.
