Waymo announced on Nov. 12 that it is expanding its services to allow its autonomous taxis to drive on freeways from the Bay Area to Phoenix.
Specifically, Waymo is focusing on certain hubs, such as Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport and LAX, to try to connect these travel spots and expand its services into these previously human-taxi-dominated areas.
This change sparks interest, as ultimately being able to utilize the freeway system will shorten ride times, potentially reducing prices on rides.
According to Waymo’s official press release, “…about 25% of rides will benefit from the use of freeways.”
This change is a major advantage for Waymo as it has to compete against other ride-sharing services that are able to use freeways. Waymo, in the past, has struggled with competing price-wise with Uber.
For a Brophy student, a ten-minute ride to Scottsdale Fashion Square would cost $28.02, while an equivalent Uber ride would cost $14.97.
Waymo’s one advantage is that some people prefer the driverless rides, compared to having to deal with a human driver.
This poses a choice for students: take an Uber, where you have to deal with someone you do not know, or pay double the price for a Waymo.
Safety is another common concern brought up when it comes to putting human lives in the hands of new technology.
In an AZ Central article, ASU professor and AI expert Andrew Maynard said, “Waymo spends a lot of time on safety and testing, so he’s confident the technology in these cars is top of the line.”
He did mention is worried about whether these vehicles will be able to adapt and adjust when the unexpected happens at 65 mph.
The opposing view would be that the same concerns are true for human drivers and that people would be hesitant to put both their physical and social trust in the hands of a stranger through an app.
Whether it’s Uber or Waymo, this new addition to Waymo’s technology allows it to compete both cheaper and quicker.