www.atlantanewsfirst.com/2026/05/14/buckhead-neighbors-concerned-over-influx-waymo-cars/
I don't think that this is AI,
Just wait until China responses all of the fleets of cars. They could do a trial run on Taiwan.
Fixed with T&Es link
Last edited by: smokie on Fri 15 May 26 at 13:00
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Professor Hannah Fry did a series of TV programs about AI. It seems this is a growing problem. These self-driving taxis cruise around, waiting for fares, rather than park up.
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>> Professor Hannah Fry did a series of TV programs about AI. It seems this is
>> a growing problem. These self-driving taxis cruise around, waiting for fares, rather than park up.
>>
Until they need more electricity.
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We rode in a Waymo in San Francisco last year. It did everything you’d expect a driver to - stopped at pedestrian crossings, turned left at major junctions with oncoming traffic.
They only operate on roads that have been accurately mapped, so you couldn’t use one to or from the airport, for example.
Our hotel was opposite what seemed to be one of their bases, so you’d seen them arriving and heading up a ramp into a car park presumably for a spot of charge.
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WAYMO and similar are the future - however uncomfortable it may make some feel.
Whether their best strategy for picking up fares is cruising waiting for a call or parked up waiting for a call I don't know.
Quite complex - electricity usages vs parking charges if parked up vs probability of a fare etc .
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>> WAYMO and similar are the future - however uncomfortable it may make some feel. <<
That's what bothers me - people just accept that this will happen, perhaps without asking whether it really makes good sense. More because certain minds decide to find out whether it is possible ?
Not that it is likely to affect me personally, unless I get in the way of one.
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That's what bothers me - people just accept that this will happen, perhaps without asking whether it really makes good sense
Nothing to do with people accepting this will happen or otherwise.
Self driving cabs will be a success if people choose to use and hire them. Its simply .
a matter of economics. Not sure why that bothers you.
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>> Self driving cabs will be a success if people choose to use and hire them. Its simply a matter of economics. <<
You have put my point in different words - that is exactly why it bothers me !
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The initial use for autonomous vehicles will likely be as taxis. The reason - take the cost of the driver out of the equation and I would estimate the fares will eventually fall by ~50%.
The key to their deployment will be their safety record, initially established with a human driver as backup, with early outcomes from full operations minutely scrutinised. If they pass the safety test - as good or better than us, their use will expand rapidly.
Could be used by disabled, elderly, school run, even those strange folk who simply dislike driving.
If you don’t like them , don’t use or buy one. But others will. For a while social media will be selectively full of horror stories - a little like the anti EV (range, battery life, slow charging etc etc). Improvements and preconceptions will gradually diminish.
History is repeating itself - they thought trains would cause cattle in adjacent fields to become barren, and the automobile was launched with man and flag in case it frightened the horses.
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>> History is repeating itself - they thought trains would cause cattle in adjacent fields to become barren, and the automobile was launched with man and flag in case it frightened the horses. <<
Well, yes. But those step-changes brought rather greater advances. Trains were a lot faster than canal boats or stage coaches ; cars took you to your door instead of the station half a mile away. Autonomous cars are a bit like Boris bikes, if one can be summoned as and when required. Can't really see the sense in having them kerb-crawling about waiting for the call though ....
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I guess they’ll very quickly have enough data to identify where and when the demand is likely to be, and have cars moving around in those locations so customers don’t have to wait very long. Though I read in today’s Times that Waymos in the US had interesting approach to flooded roads, until recalled, in that they just drove through them, but more slowly. Which was fine until one got washed away…!
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>> Well, yes. But those step-changes brought rather greater advances. Trains were a lot faster than
>> canal boats or stage coaches ; cars took you to your door instead of the
>> station half a mile away. Autonomous cars are a bit like Boris bikes, if one
>> can be summoned as and when required. Can't really see the sense in having them
>> kerb-crawling about waiting for the call though ....
Autonomous will potentially herald a massive change.
The average personal car is used for about an hour a day. An autonomous vehicle summoned by an app may get used for 5-15 hours a day.
Could become the economic choice, particularly for urban dwellers, rather than own. No parking problems. No insurance worries. No servicing concerns. Hire the size needed for the journey. An enabler for elderly, children, disabled etc.
After the journey will go to the next job or parking and recharging location. High density as no need for public access. Will free up current parking in town centres and retail parks for alternative use. Saves more green belt development.
Less roadside parking will improve traffic flows, and congestion reduced as fewer drivers looking for a parking space.
May ultimately (fairly soon IMHO) be safer than human drivers as systems can analyse the real cause of accidents and incorporate learning in upgraded software. Beats current reliance on drivers recollection usually skewed by no claims concerns and flawed memory.
Quite likely that in 30 years time most flesh and blood drivers will simply not be allowed behind the wheel - possibly only those with specialist training.
Like most on this forum I like driving. Also like many/most I am of an age that I may observe some of these changes but too old to be seriously impacted.
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"can analyse the real cause of accidents and incorporate learning in upgraded software"
and we all know how reliable software updates are!
With early releases requiring an accompanying driver maybe they should be limited to ageing drivers who statistically represent an increased risk before rolling out to the blind and handicapped?
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>> The average personal car is used for about an hour a day.
In the "block" of houses around me, there's only two households where the occupants work - and they all largely WFH. Most cars just sit here 24/7.
The retired folk, including us, mostly have two cars but one hardly gets used. But we're semi-rural with a hit and miss bus service and £50 for a round trip taxi into town feels too expensive (but probably makes more sense than keeping a car). The ability to call up a salf-driving car can't some soon enough = providing the cost isn't bonkers.
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They're just behaving like people.
My daughter lives in a cul de sac in Cambridge, taxis or PH cars are always parking outside while waiting for fares. This was super-annoying when they left their diesels running at night but not so bad now they have Priuses
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An acquaintance had a lorry that persisted in parking outside his house while waiting for a load from the building site along the road. He went out with a hammer and told the driver that if he didn't foxtrot oscar he would smash all his lights with the hammer.
The driver said 'if you do that I will call the police', he was told 'and you will lose a days pay'. The driver moved.
Last edited by: Duncan on Mon 18 May 26 at 11:11
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Is this for real? - bathtub tom
