For years, we’ve heard tech nerds make a big deal about how once we get humans out from behind the controls of cars, robots will ensure there are no more accidents. We’ve never had such boundless faith in technology, so it doesn’t really surprise us that robotaxis in different US cities keep causing accidents and other problems.
Florida road rage ends with man shooting a pregnant woman.
The latest example comes from Tempe, Arizona where many robotaxis troll the streets, picking up and dropping off people. But this Waymo Jaguar I-Pace got confused turning onto Rural Road from a side street and started driving the wrong way.
As it turns left and encounters stopped cars in the median waiting to turn left at a nearby light, the Waymo taxi just turns into the left lane of opposing traffic, traveling in the wrong direction. Why it does that is a mystery and it’s concerning.
Before you start getting the wrong idea about robotaxis, a reporter from 12 News says she spoke with an expert at Arizona State University who explained robot cars are far safer drivers than humans. So there, you can’t criticize them because they’re better than you.
That reporter went on to explain that the expert was using Waymo data to come to that conclusion. Just how much do we all trust Waymo to tell on itself if there is a problem?
After all, some incidents in San Francisco involving robotaxis at fault were blamed on humans by the companies, with one losing its ability to operate autonomous cars without a driver inside after it was found the company covered up information which didn’t make the robotaxi look good.
So don’t worry, robotaxis drive better than you because apparently you would’ve also driven the wrong way in this same situation. Or something like that.
Images via kilowattsapp/TikTok
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@kilowattsapp Hello officer, sry i got a little confused #waymo #autonomous ♬ original sound – kilowattsapp
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