# Austin -- robot corridor (Austin, TX)

Austin operability: 78/100. Avride, Waymo, Coco, Zoox operate here.

## The rules here

Texas regulates PDDs under Transportation Code Chapter 552A, which preempts local regulation of PDD operation on sidewalks and pedestrian areas. Speed limit 10 mph in pedestrian areas, 25 mph on road shoulders. No device cap, no per-operator limit, no city permit required. Weight limit 500 lbs (loaded). State preemption means cities cannot ban PDDs or impose additional permit requirements. NOTE: TX 552A preempts local PDD rules but does NOT preempt robotaxi franchise terms (those are regulated by TDLR under SB 2807, 2025). ROBOTAXI LAYER: TDLR issues Autonomous Vehicle (AV) ride-hailing permits (Tesla Robotaxi LLC permit effective Aug 2025, expires Aug 2026). TX DMV regulates AV testing under SB 2205 (2017). Waymo operates under TDLR permit + TX DMV authorization.

- **Speed limit**: 10 mph
- **Permit authority**: State of Texas (Texas Transportation Code Ch. 552A preempts city regulation)
- **Ordinance**: TX Transp Code Ch. 552A (PDD); SB 2807 (2025, AV ride-hailing); SB 2205 (2017, AV testing) (https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/)

## Who operates here

- **Avride** -- operating
- **Waymo** -- operating
- **Coco** -- operating
- **Zoox** -- operating

## Incidents on record (5)

- [NHTSA opens investigation into Avride after 16 crashes in Dallas and Austin](https://registry.deploy.report/incidents/nhtsa-avride-investigation-texas-2026) (serious)
- [Tesla robotaxis logged 17 NHTSA-reported incidents in Austin, including two teleoperator-caused crashes](https://registry.deploy.report/incidents/tesla-robotaxi-austin-nhtsa-crash-record-2025-2026) (serious)
- [NHTSA fines Cruise $1.5M for failing to fully report the Oct 2023 pedestrian-dragging crash](https://registry.deploy.report/incidents/cruise-nhtsa-consent-order-2024) (serious)
- [Cruise recalls 300 ADS units (NHTSA 23E-029) over articulated-vehicle misprediction](https://registry.deploy.report/incidents/nhtsa-cruise-articulated-vehicle-recall-2023) (moderate)
- [Cruise recalls 80 ADS units (NHTSA 22E-072) over unprotected-left hard-braking software](https://registry.deploy.report/incidents/nhtsa-cruise-reflexive-planner-recall-2022) (moderate)

## Machine-readable

- JSON: /v1/corridors/austin
- GeoJSON: /v1/corridors/austin/geojson
- Compare all markets: /corridors/compare

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