Driverless Cars Return to Austin Roads
Austin, Texas Sees Waymo Testing Autonomous Vehicles on Its Streets
In Austin, Texas, residents are once again sharing roads with autonomous vehicles. Driverless cars have returned to the locality just months following a significant hitch in such revolutionary technology. Autonomous vehicle company Cruise had to cease its operation of self-driving cars due to an accident.
A significant tech company, Waymo, reports it is deploying a series of driverless vehicles within sections of the city. This test run started on Wednesday, offering rides to company employees without any driver behind the wheel.
Testing of Driverless Cars
“With novel technology, there is always going to be bumps along the way, although I hope the initiative succeeds,” Austin resident Ruthie Craft comments, revealing her slight apprehension.
Waymo commenced the on-road assessments on Wednesday. It will involve an almost 50-mile drive across Austin, utilizing employees as passengers. The predominant question is whether these passengers have any influence over the vehicle operation if things appear to go south.
Recall of Cruise Software on Driverless Vehicles
Earlier this month, autonomous vehicle company Cruise voluntarily recalled the software that its autonomous fleet uses. This occurred after the organization placed a nationwide pause on operations after an incident in Austin.
Prior to the pause, Austin drivers had an experience of what it feels like sharing the roads with autonomous vehicles. “It is pretty scary, especially being a pedestrian trying to cross the street. I’ve encountered them stuck in intersections because people won’t allow them to pass,” Ruthie Craft expressed her concerns.
Potential Benefits and Risks of Autonomous Cars
Due to a reported crash, Cruise withdrew its self-driving vehicles from all roadways across the country with the aim of improving safety and transparency. The incident has led residents to ponder over the advantages and disadvantages of autonomous cars.
“Even though I wish they were completely safe, it will perhaps take a while before I feel at ease with the idea and comfortable enough to ride in one,” commented another Austin resident, Maureen Papovich.
Waymo is planning to attend the South by Southwest event to enlighten the public more about its autonomous vehicles. “Resistance and uncertainty are normal reactions to new technology, so their effort to educate people is commendable,” said Craft.