I’ve never been in a driverless taxi, also known as autonomous vehicles. The concept is quite terrifying, and the closest I’ve come to understanding how my dad must’ve felt when he taught me to drive. To some degree, we’re already accustomed to putting our lives in someone else’s hands – boarding an airplane being a prime example. Auto-pilot may well be used in most flights, though it’s reassuring that you have not one, but two capable humans in the cockpit.
Yet despite my fears of riding in a driverless cab, it could soon become a reality. US-based Waymo, owned by Alphabet, has plans to bring its autonomous driving services to London next year. The company said it is working with UK authorities to secure the necessary permissions to operate in the capital.
My 5G signal on the tube is patchy at best; GPS prangs out in densely populated areas; and the incessant beeping of stolen e-bikes are daily challenges. These occurrences do little to inspire confidence in the city’s readiness to handle AVs. Urban and technological infrastructure needs urgent attention before handing over control entirely to a driverless vehicle.
Uber, Bolt, and traditional black cabs are already competing on price, reliability and trust. Introducing driverless taxis will add a new layer to that competition, one where reputation may matter even more than convenience. Winning over passengers, especially corporate travellers, will take time. Though just like learning to drive – it’s something that feels impossible until it suddenly isn’t.
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The future of driverless cities
I’ve never been in a driverless taxi, also known as autonomous vehicles. The concept is quite terrifying, and the closest I’ve come to understanding how my dad must’ve felt when he taught me to drive. To some degree, we’re already accustomed to putting our lives in someone else’s hands – boarding an airplane being a prime example. Auto-pilot may well be used in most flights, though it’s reassuring that you have not one, but two capable humans in the cockpit.
Yet despite my fears of riding in a driverless cab, it could soon become a reality. US-based Waymo, owned by Alphabet, has plans to bring its autonomous driving services to London next year. The company said it is working with UK authorities to secure the necessary permissions to operate in the capital.
My 5G signal on the tube is patchy at best; GPS prangs out in densely populated areas; and the incessant beeping of stolen e-bikes are daily challenges. These occurrences do little to inspire confidence in the city’s readiness to handle AVs. Urban and technological infrastructure needs urgent attention before handing over control entirely to a driverless vehicle.
Uber, Bolt, and traditional black cabs are already competing on price, reliability and trust. Introducing driverless taxis will add a new layer to that competition, one where reputation may matter even more than convenience. Winning over passengers, especially corporate travellers, will take time. Though just like learning to drive – it’s something that feels impossible until it suddenly isn’t.
Subscribe to SAN here for weekly industry insights.
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