Look! No Driver!!! Waymo Arrives in South Park
The Car Arrives
We had the exciting opportunity to try out Waymo, the self-driving electric car service, while still in its soft opening. The Waymo service is expected to launch for all users later this month.
Aileen and Debra
Our first ride started by hailing the car which was similar to other rideshare apps, except the app also unlocks the car doors on arrival. Once seated and buckled, we pushed start on the screen, and the car began moving. Watching the steering wheel move without a driver took some getting used to, but we quickly adjusted. We perused the tabs on the user screen and put on a jazz station while we looked at the route.
Start the Trip
It was interesting to watch the car navigate through many pedestrians and obstacles around DTLA. The routes taken tried to avoid these situations whenever possible. It had a highly advanced way of detecting people and cars and potential hazards. With each block, we felt more comfortable and confident in our “driver.”
Inside the Car - the Vacant Seat
To give examples, we had one car approach quickly and cut us off to make a light, and it appeared Waymo was already tracking it and let the car in. At another point in the ride, a man got out of the passenger side of a car while stopped at a light, and we felt Waymo hit the brakes, not hard but enough to stop fast. It was also fun to watch the reactions of people around us - excitement and intrigue and sometimes a bit of shock not seeing a driver. The experience was very impressive.
In Traffic
Reaction from other Drivers
Aileen’s thoughts - It does pose several important questions. My first concern is that by eliminating a driver, in this worsening capitalist society, many people rely heavily on a side income driving for ride share apps. While the technology is undoubtedly advanced, it will likely bring unimaginable profits to only a small group of people. My second concern is that an electric car is not a solution to climate change. This still puts more cars on the road. To create real change, we should be putting these bright minds to use in making American public transit accessible and safe to use for everyone.
Debra’s thoughts – I agree with Aileen’s thoughts on fewer human jobs and not dealing with the effects of a car-culture. Sprawling L.A. will always have a car culture. I see an advantage to those cars being self-automated. Waymo sees in every direction and has “eyes on the back of its head,” does not speed or race on the streets, is not distracted by cell phones or people in the car, and pays close attention to pedestrians. Waymo is a safer driver than many on our L.A. streets.
Check out the photos on our ride. And we’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments section!
By Aileen Coyle and Debra Shrout