Results: Self-driving cars
Published on 01/17/2025
I live in a city (Phoenix, AZ) which has had self-driving cars for a number of years in its metro area. The most common are Waymo cars (a subsidiary of Google's parent.) Use an app, order the car, a Jaguar appears, and off you go. They have an exemplary safety record thus far.
QUESTIONS
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1.
1.
Self-driving cars have several advantages over traditional rideshare. Which of these perceived advantages do you like? No tips, making the ride less expensive than traditional rideshare.
29%
638 votes
You provide your own entertainment choices in the app, which take effect when you enter the car.
13%
289 votes
You are 100% unlikely to be raped or robbed. (Current rideshare companies have assault statistics, both by drivers and riders.)
24%
528 votes
The vehicle is electric and contributes to better air quality.
20%
445 votes
Persons without the ability to drive a car, such as the elderly, the blind, etc. have an easy and convenient way to get a ride without having to interact with another human and facing the inherent dangers of doing so.
29%
630 votes
You don't need to interact with a human. Rideshare drivers I have encountered have been overly perfumed, or not, talked too much (or were creepily silent). Likewise the car will be devoid of the driver's preference of air fresheners, and you aren't at the mercy of the driver refusing to turn on the a/c, etc.
21%
454 votes
Not Applicable
47%
1028 votes
- none
- None
- Good for people who drive when they are drunk
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2.
Of course, there can be disadvantages. Which one(s) of these would concern you? Your mortal enemy could theoretically hack the vehicle you are in. (Of course, your mortal enemy could also harm/bribe a rideshare driver or tamper with their car, if determined...)
16%
349 votes
Your vehicle could drive off a cliff (note: has happened to people following Google/Apple maps etc.., but is exceedingly rare in the "manual" human case. Has not happened with self-driving cars.)
32%
693 votes
Your vehicle gets stuck going around in a an endless loop. This happened in Scottsdale (part of Phoenix area) last week. Note that the dispatcher/help system intervened and the passenger only lost 5 minutes of time.
33%
723 votes
Your vehicle causes an accident. Context: This happened to a vehicle in Uber's self-driving program. It did not properly pick up the skin color of a homeless woman and killed her. The resulting lawsuit found that the human in the car (it was during its testing phase) was playing video games and didn't fulfill her job of overriding the system, which is why she was in the vehicle in the first place. Uber withdrew from testing in my state as a result.
40%
890 votes
Displaces gig workers.
16%
349 votes
Not Applicable
39%
855 votes
- no control
- accidents
- That the car would die somewhere I'm not familiar with and leave me stranded.
3.
3.
Elon Musk has debuted a self-driving taxi prototype. Given that he has cut corners with testing the Tesla, and has bought off the incoming US administration in what some believe is an attempt to kill off regulation and testing of his products, would you entrust your life to riding in one of his cars? Yes
8%
178 votes
No
64%
1399 votes
Undecided
28%
623 votes
4.
4.
A design question: currently the Waymo features a driver seat with a steering wheel. Would you prefer they keep "the look" or should that feature be dispensed with? (It's strange the first few times you stop at a light next to one, and there's no one seemingly at the wheel.) Yes
20%
450 votes
No
24%
531 votes
Undecided
55%
1219 votes
5.
5.
Finally, would you ride in one? Yes
15%
338 votes
No
55%
1204 votes
Undecided
30%
658 votes
COMMENTS