Waymo Begins Testing Autonomous Ride-Hailing Service With No Safety Drivers Behind the Wheel

[avanpelt]

Once they remove the driver/employee they are also going to remove the steering wheel, gas and brake pedals. And no, I am not making that up, there will literally be no possible way for someone to control the vehicle.

That makes sense. It sounds like a crazy thing to do, but that’s probably the only way they can prevent theft of the vehicle.

 

[thisisnotmyname]

Is it still possible to get on the early riser program? I’ll take a trip to chandler to try it out if I can.

 

[Nunyabinez]

While safety is obviously an issue, people don't think about how many people are killed in cars every year.

Automated cars don't have to be perfect, they just have to initially kill fewer people than driven cars do.

And I'm pretty sure that even at this point, if we were able to replace ALL cars with autonomous cars that would be easily achieved.

 

[iRockMan1]

Great. Go to a place with no regulations to test a technology that will eliminate many thousands of entry level driving jobs for people. These big tech companies exist only to enrich a tiny number of people and destroy the rest of us, all under the rubric of “progress.”

Self-driving cars will eventually save thousands of lives every day. I'd say it's a good trade-off.

 

[macs4nw]

I'd rather walk

And then maybe get hit by a Waymo test vehicle?

 

[jonnysods]

Sweet when it's fully automated we don't have to tip!!

 

[ethanwa79]

Great. Go to a place with no regulations to test a technology that will eliminate many thousands of entry level driving jobs for people. These big tech companies exist only to enrich a tiny number of people and destroy the rest of us, all under the rubric of “progress.”

Just like your Mac replaced all of those human calculators, and your iPhone replaced all of the line operators?

Living in the past man...

 

[max2]

Can't wait!

I don't know how to drive and never wanted to learn. This is the perfect solution for me!

The future looks bright!

 

[M.PaulCezanne]

seems dangerous

 

[AmazingRobie]

Great. Go to a place with no regulations to test a technology that will eliminate many thousands of entry level driving jobs for people. These big tech companies exist only to enrich a tiny number of people and destroy the rest of us, all under the rubric of “progress.”

There will always be room for you to be taxi'd around by other people, the same as business owners can still hire artists or professionals to create their websites and business cards for them even though the software is dead simple to use yourself and get pro results, however, as time goes by, more and more people are opting to do things themselves, so you really only have the people utilizing the technology to blame.

It's really a little late to be crying about progress now...

 

[DeepIn2U]

NO THANKS.

Yeah creepy lol!

I’m curious about this going live, in the case of a major accident and you’re unconscious would Waymo service via vehicular sensors call for 911 help??

I think this the biggest waste of a device as it solves no problem.

 

[dysamoria]

Computers are unreliable to the point that there's no warranty on software. Tech people constantly proclaim that bugs are a normal facet of computing. In fact, computers are a mess, compared to other industries the same age. Mapping software continues to have lots of errors in the data. There is no such thing as actual artificial intelligence.

Why would i trust a driverless car???

 

[anotherpaul]

A truer test would be done during Xmas week transporting people from home to a shopping mall with the big box stores like Macys, Penny, Nordstrom, etc.

So far, the "testing" touted & shown on TV doesn't qualify as a real test.

And will the driverless car manufacturer be the ones liable for damages in accidents? If there isn't a driver, who pays for repairs?

Forgot to mention that another test would be to have the driverless cars go thru a school zone or go pass a school when school is out...

 

[qCzar]

I have zero confidence that I could do that. You might not have been paid much, but that isn't an entry level job. If it is I'd never qualify for one that isn't.

Driver positions started at $16/hr in California. If you had a good driving record you're hired. That's all it took. We hired folks who were 18yo and fresh out of high school. It certainly didn't attract the best people but it allowed those folks to earn a decent wage while attending college in the afternoons. Provided a consistent schedule, weekends off, holidays off and paid, overtime, etc. Something that a traditional entry level job at a retail establishment would not provide. Downside was that you had to start early in the mornings, I started at 2a but I was off by 11a or Noon. Gave me time to - as mentioned - go to school and schedule appointments and job interviews in the afternoons without needing to request time off.

Now, I know some folks had speeding tickets but for the most part the drivers license was the only barrier into the job. Didn't need a CDL because the trucks weren't long enough (but we did have CDL drivers). We weren't trained on anything either, much to my surprise.