Self-driving cars now. Not in the future.
IMAGINE if everyone could get around easily and safely, without tired, drunk or distracted driving. Time spent commuting could be time spent doing what you want, as the car handles all of the driving.
This is the scene that Waymo seeks to create with its completely autonomous driving cars. This possibility is not several light years ahead, it’s happening now in the US.
Waymo started as Google’s self-driving car project in 2009. It has been spun off to become an independent “self-driving technology company.” For the past 11 years, Waymo’s fleet has driven over 10 million miles (or the equivalent of 10 lifetimes of driving). Waymo claims to drive more in a day than the average American drives in a year, on top of almost seven billion miles in driving simulation.
Extensive testing and a safe track record are crucial to curb concerns from some fatal accidents which involved self-driving cars earlier this year — a self-driving Uber SUV in Arizona which struck and killed a pedestrian, and an autopilot Tesla Model X in California that slammed into a concrete freeway divider near Mountain View and killed its driver. Both incidents, however, involved technologies that required the driver to pay attention. Waymo’s self-driving technology does not require anyone in the driver’s seat, and has not encountered any safety or technical issues so far.
Since 2017, Waymo has running a trial program of its no-driver cars in Phoenix, Arizona. As of October this year, there have been around 400 “early riders” using Waymo’s selfdriving Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid minivans for free. Waymo’s fleets since 2009 have included the Toyota Prius and the Lexus RX450h. Luxury vehicles will be joining soon, as Waymo partnered in 2018 with Jaguar to create the Jaguar I-PACE, the world’s first premium electric self-driving vehicle.
Waymo has also applied to conduct public road tests in California, despite rigorous requirements imposed by the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). According to San Francisco
Chronicle’s Carolyn Said, Waymo informed DMV that its cars can navigate through city streets and highways (up to 65 mph), and through various conditions (day, night, fog and light rain). It is uncertain if Waymo’s self-driving cars can handle flooding or torrential rains.
Waymo is on the verge of rolling out a driverless taxi service in Arizona this year. While Waymo is still testing different pricing models, some reports indicate that Waymo trips may cost as much as Uber or Lyft rides. Waymo CEO John Krafcik has also revealed that they are exploring other ways to make rides cost less or be free by having companies pay for the service as a form of advertising (such as malls paying for customers going to their destination).
Waymo’s progress in self-driving technology has caused other automakers and tech companies to develop similar technologies.
This is a promising development for countries like the Philippines. Selfdriving technologies can be very beneficial for car owners and commuters alike. Waymo’s tagline resonates with Filipinos who spend several hours each day driving in traffic — “time spent commuting could be time spent doing what you want, as the car handles all of the driving.”
The absence of a driver can also address security issues (i.e., assault, robbery) that have historically occurred in taxis, jeepneys or even ride-hailing services. Selfdriving can also alleviate risks associated with long-distance driving in industries (such as sleep deprivation for truck drivers or bus drivers). The Philippines would have to lay the policy environment since the country currently has not regulations on self-driving technologies.
For now, Filipinos would have to wait for Waymo to make its way to the Philippines. So this Halloween if you see a car driving by itself, considering running away. That’s not Waymo, but probably a haunted car. Happy Halloween!