{"id":167378,"date":"2019-10-11T19:10:35","date_gmt":"2019-10-11T11:10:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.geek.com\/featured\/-1807053\/"},"modified":"2019-10-11T19:10:35","modified_gmt":"2019-10-11T11:10:35","slug":"waymo-teases-completely-driverless-cars-in-phoenix","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/itteacheritfreelance.hk\/test\/wordpress\/2019\/10\/11\/waymo-teases-completely-driverless-cars-in-phoenix\/","title":{"rendered":"Waymo Teases \u2018Completely Driverless\u2019 Cars in Phoenix"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
Waymo One autonomous car (via Waymo)<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

Waymo is reportedly ditching human safety drivers as it rolls out “completely driverless” cars in Arizona.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Alphabet-owned business this week notified customers that their next ride may come without a trained operator up front, according to an email posted on Reddit<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

TechCrunch confirmed<\/a> with Waymo that the message was sent to early riders from the company’s Phoenix-based trial.<\/span><\/p>\n

The program, dubbed Waymo One, currently operates<\/a> a fleet of self-driving vehicles\u2014available 24 hours a day, seven days a week\u2014in several Metro Phoenix areas.<\/span><\/p>\n

Users can simply download the application, then get started by confirming their pickup and drop-off locations. Accept by pressing the “Request Ride” button.<\/span><\/p>\n

Up to three adults and one child can ride together.<\/span><\/p>\n

Trained drivers have been supervising all Waymo One vehicles for users’ comfort and convenience. But the firm is ready to transition to fully driverless outings.<\/span><\/p>\n

Waymo’s email spells out the autonomous experience:<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

“Completely driverless Waymo cars are on the way” (via Waymo\/Reddit)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

If matched with a self-driving vehicle, you’ll receive a notification confirming the car will not have a trained driver up front. Before panicking, read the app’s notes on “What to expect.” Then sit back and enjoy having the cab all to yourself.<\/span><\/p>\n

“As always, if you need assistance during any part of your trip, you can contact a rider support agent through the car’s help button or in your app,” the memo said.<\/span><\/p>\n

Presumably users can decline the driverless option, though that was not addressed in the leaked email.<\/span><\/p>\n

Waymo did not immediately respond to Geek’s request for comment.<\/span><\/p>\n

As the novelty of self-driving transportation has yet to wear off (and likely won’t for a while), most first-timers have a lot of questions and concerns about their autonomous commute.<\/span><\/p>\n

In fact, a majority of Americans are still afraid to ride in fully self-driving cars<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

A year after several reports of high-profile automated vehicle incidents, AAA found the nation’s attitude toward driverless transportation has not rebounded.<\/span><\/p>\n

The organization’s annual survey, published in March, revealed that 71 percent of people prefer to have some control over the two-ton hunk of metal in which they’re traveling\u2014versus 63 percent in 2017.<\/span><\/p>\n

Most skeptics cite reasons such as lack of trust, not wanting to give up driving, unripe technology, and iffy road conditions.<\/span><\/p>\n

But while 55 percent of people believe most cars will be able to steer themselves by 2029, experts agree that a fully automated fleet is still “decades away.”<\/span><\/p>\n

More on Geek.com:<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n