Would you ride in a driverless vehicle? Our family had the opportunity to do this while we were in San Francisco on vacation. I enjoy trying new experiences and this was something new. Legal Disclaimer: Riding in a self diving vehicle might not be for everyone, and this article is not advising for or against being a passenger in a self driving vehicle.
From a passenger’s perspective, would I do it again? Yes! It was a highlight of our trip and was exciting to know we were one of the first from the east coast to experience it. My favorite part was the pure shock and awe when we were pulling into the Palace of Fine Arts. A gentleman in the car going the other direction did a double take and his jaw was wide open in pure disbelief when he realized we were moving and there was not a human driver. It was priceless!
Before becoming a full time travel agent, I worked in information technology for 23 years, so I really appreciated being able to see technology in action.
· The Display - There were two large displays inside the car. This is a benefit for passengers to help put your mind at ease since you don’t have complete control of the vehicle. From both the passenger seat and in the back you could ‘see’ the other objects and obstacles in the road. I wanted the kids to have the best experience so each ride we let them take turns riding in the front as it has the best view. Because of this, I really appreciated having a display for those riding in the back. If you are familiar with the display on a Tesla, the Waymo is similar, but it appears to detect more objects.
For example, Waymo would detect not only other cars, but pedestrians on the side walk as well. You could see traffic cones, stop signs, and more. The display took it a step further and if Waymo determined it wanted to pass another car, you would see the route it would take. There is also a support button you can call to speak with a live agent. (I did not test that feature out). You can also direct Waymo to pull over (I did not test that feature out either) Just like your own car, you could control the A/C and pick out what music you want to listen to. Just a note: there is a limit of how many songs you can skip. Ask me how we found this out. I also appreciated it let you know how long was left your in your drive. Similar to other direction apps, the time to the destination will change. Lucky for us, we didn’t have any traffic so on our first drive our ETA was decreased.
· The Sensors – You cannot miss all the Light Detection and Ranging Sensors (LDAR Sensors) and cameras on the Waymo that are consistently scanning. The most obvious ones are on the top of the car and the two near the front doors. There are also ones at the very front and two in the back. There is a link at the bottom of this article to learn more about it.
Waymo stood out (in a good way) with a few things.
· The Waymo vehicials are electric and you could see when it was creating power verses using it.
The top things it did really well are below.
· It detected when the car to the right of us wanted to merge into our lane and slowed down.
· You are in charge of when you exit the car. Pulling the handle the first time unlocks the door and the second time opens it. (Waymo also gives directions on this when you exit)
· When we exited our ride, it let us know to watch out as a scooter was approaching on the sidewalk. Additionally, if you need to walk the last little bit to get to your destination, Waymo will give you directions in the app.
· No driving fatigue like human drivers can get. You can order a Waymo 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
· No distracting driving. There are not texts to read or objects that could take a human driver's eyes off the road.
· It did not speed.
The ride wasn’t 100% perfect. I understand it is a new technology and I am sure it will be resolved.
· It changed lanes in the middle of an intersection. The first intersection it stayed in its own lane, but the second intersection it changed lanes as we needed to turn at the third intersection.
· When passing another car it needed to allocate more time for oncoming traffic.
· The current car is best for 3 people. You can fit 4, but the 4th should be a smaller child. We had 4 people in the car and it was a tight fit. I was in the middle of the back row and needed more room.
So how does it work?
· Enter your preferred destination and color.
· Track in the app how close your car is to your current location.
· When your Waymo arrives it will have your initials and the color you picked at the top of the car. This is so other people cannot get into the Waymo you requested and it makes it easier to find your Waymo if there are several at your pick up point.
· Unlock the car from the app and the door handles will appear.
· Once you are in the car, Waymo will advise you to put on your seat belt and give further instructions.
· Once everybody is buckled up, click Start Drive.
· Enjoy the ride until your destination.
A few other observations about our rides:
· The cost was very close to other ride sharing services. This could change based on supply and demand, but when we rode it was very similar. The app did not ask for a tip.
· Minors are able to summon a Waymo for a drive.
· Both times we asked for a ride, the car came pretty quick.
· While you could store luggage in the trunk, we did not try this feature out.
· Yes there are pedals in the car.
· There is a steering wheel, with a display asking you not to touch it. And yes, the steering wheel does move as the car is turning.
· Yes, the Waymo must follow the traffic laws.
· You can start your ride without all passengers having their seatbelt on. However, Waymo will alert you that you need your seatbelt on. I suggest putting the seatbelt on first before starting your ride.
· You can see the Waymos all over the road in San Francisco. Most did not have passengers in them.· We asked our driver on the way to the airport, if Waymo had affected his rides in the city. He said within the city limits, yes but not for passenger pick ups and drop offs at the airport.
To learn more about the Waymo technology, click here:
If you are interested in a cruise with a port stop where Waymo is, schedule a consultation below.
