For years, fully self-driving cars available for hire have been touted as a breakthrough technology. That moment has arrived, albeit in select cities.
Transcript
ROB SCHMITZ, HOST:
Robotaxis, or fully autonomous vehicles for hire, have long been seen as futuristic. Is that future here now? NPR’s car expert Camila Domonoske is here to discuss. Hi, Camila.
CAMILA DOMONOSKE, BYLINE: Hello, Rob.
SCHMITZ: I’ve been hearing from friends in cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles about ordering these self-driving cabs. They’re popping up everywhere. Will we see more in other parts of the country soon?
DOMONOSKE: There are indeed significant expansion plans. At present, around a dozen major cities utilize these vehicles daily. Waymo is leading the charge. These white electric cars have numerous sensors resembling a spinning top hat. You might have…
SCHMITZ: Yes.
DOMONOSKE: …spotted them even in cities where they’re not yet available. They’re undergoing tests.
SCHMITZ: I saw one recently in Washington, D.C., but it didn’t appear to be in use.
DOMONOSKE: Not yet.
SCHMITZ: Right.
DOMONOSKE: But D.C. is among the approximately 20 cities Waymo intends to expand into. I spoke with David Margines, Waymo’s head of product management, about whether the era of robotaxis has truly arrived.
DAVID MARGINES: The driverless future is indeed here, spreading to more areas, though not everywhere yet.
DOMONOSKE: Other companies are also making moves. Amazon’s Zoox has been approved for commercial operations. Tesla has ambitious plans, including a futuristic Cybercab, though it’s not yet in public use. Meanwhile, in cities piloting their robotaxi system, regular Tesla models are being used.
SCHMITZ: How safe are these vehicles?
DOMONOSKE: While companies claim high safety, third-party research offers more insight. This summer, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety analyzed Waymo’s crash data per miles driven. They focused on Waymo as it’s the only company sharing relevant data. David Kidd, vice president for vehicle research at the Institute, shared their findings.
DAVID KIDD: Waymo vehicles are involved in crashes 68% less often than human drivers.
DOMONOSKE: So 68%…
SCHMITZ: Impressive.
DOMONOSKE: …fewer crashes in total, based on miles driven. They’re also less likely to strike another vehicle.
SCHMITZ: That’s reassuring.
DOMONOSKE: Yes. Though they may still be rear-ended by human drivers, which is unavoidable.
SCHMITZ: Indeed.
DOMONOSKE: A critical point is that this research compared Waymos to all human drivers, including errant ones. Some safety experts argue these systems should meet higher standards, perhaps comparing them to professional or cautious drivers.
SCHMITZ: Understood. There’s also concern about potential job losses among taxi and ride-hail drivers. What other concerns are being raised besides safety?
DOMONOSKE: Another concern involves these vehicles avoiding typical human errors like speeding or distractions but making odd mistakes.
SCHMITZ: Like what?
DOMONOSKE: Earlier this year in Los Angeles, I summoned a Waymo and inadvertently caused a problem for construction workers trying to navigate a large truck through an intersection. The Waymo stopped in the middle…
SCHMITZ: Oh dear.
DOMONOSKE: …blocking traffic. A worker tried signaling it to move, but it didn’t respond.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
DOMONOSKE: This is my ride. Apologies, I summoned it.
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #1: Really?
DOMONOSKE: It’s waiting for me but wants to move elsewhere and won’t let me board.
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #2: Be careful. Come this way.
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #3: Welcome to the future.
DOMONOSKE: Welcome to the future indeed, as another worker remarked. It took about four minutes to clear the way.
SCHMITZ: (Laughs) Camila, it’s impressive you recorded that.
DOMONOSKE: As a radio reporter, you must always be ready.
(LAUGHTER)
SCHMITZ: Yes, welcome to the future. These situations, where machines handle spontaneous human challenges, seem problematic. How does Waymo plan to address such issues?
DOMONOSKE: The companies argue that accumulating more data over time will aid in teaching vehicles how to react. David Margines from Waymo acknowledged that Waymos aren’t flawless and are being improved to handle such scenarios better. I’m not alone in experiencing this, and it’s especially concerning with emergency vehicles involved, an issue recently highlighted by federal regulators.
SCHMITZ: Thank you, Camila, NPR’s skilled driver and reporter.
DOMONOSKE: Thank you, Rob.
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