Robert Stone and Sheila Zieglowsky may not fit the traditional mold of tech-savvy early adopters, but these octogenarians have eagerly embraced a new and expanded ride-hailing service that utilizes self-driving cars.
Waymo, a subsidiary of Google’s parent company Alphabet Inc., already boasts hundreds of autonomous vehicles on the road, collectively logging over 1 million miles with no human drivers.
When asked about the service, Zieglowsky shared with CBS News that she finds it “convenient” and “comfortable.”
At 83 years old, Stone mentioned that he’s seriously considering retiring from driving, highlighting the appeal of Waymo as a substitute. “This is just a great way to go,” he added.
Waymo’s pricing and functionality align closely with Uber, making it a viable and competitive ride-hailing option. Moreover, Waymo remains years ahead of its rivals in self-driving vehicle development.
The self-driving technology implemented in Waymo’s cars allows them to identify objects up to three football fields away. From September 2020 to January 2023, these vehicles encountered only two minor collisions. However, Waymo recently confirmed that one of their cars unfortunately struck and killed a small dog.
Waymo stated that while the dog was correctly recognized by the system as it darted out from behind a parked vehicle, the car was unable to prevent the collision. Notably, a human “autonomous specialist” was present in the driver’s seat during the incident. Investigations are still ongoing.
In a recent study conducted by AAA, it was revealed that 68% of drivers express fear towards self-driving vehicles.
Adam Lenz, Waymo’s head of sustainability, believes that people will become more accustomed to the technology over time. He stated, “What we’ve observed is that when individuals experience the technology firsthand, they tend to use it more frequently and develop greater trust in its capabilities.”
Currently, Waymo’s fleet of fully electric Jaguars exclusively operates in two cities.
Automotive journalist Tim Stevens commented, “If you visit cities like Phoenix or San Francisco, you can catch a glimpse of the future. However, it may be another 10 to 15 years or longer before this technology becomes available in your own hometown.”
In the meantime, both Zieglowsky and Stone are thoroughly enjoying the sensation of a future that is already here.
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