Members of your Axios Atlanta team have each ridden in one of the company's self-driving cars.
Zoom in: The Waymo team set Thomas up on a preplanned ride starting at Ponce City Market and cruising through Old Fourth Ward, taking roughly 15 minutes.
Their reviews: Thomas sat in the right back seat as the electric Jaguar SUV (Waymo's standard car for Atlanta and other cities) navigated around intersections, pedestrians and stopped vehicles.
It was a smooth and surprisingly human-like ride.
Yes, but: That's not to say we haven't experienced some abrupt turns, indecisive lane changes and the like.
Here are a few tips:
✅ Do's:
Tap the tablet: The in-car screen allows passengers to control music, climate and ride functions.
Wear your seatbelt. It's the right call in every ride ... but the Waymo won't start moving until you do buckle up.
Try out the back right seat. You get a good view of the steering wheel spinning to make turns (if that sight doesn't freak you out).
❌ Don'ts
Don't sit in the driver's seat. Feel free to sit shotgun, however.
Don't touch the steering wheel or other driving controls. "Somebody from rider support will get on and say, 'Please don't do that,'" Waymo's Ethan Teicher told Thomas.
Don't smoke or vape in the car. You wouldn't do that with a human behind the wheel, would you?
Don't expect the vehicle to speed. The vehicle follows the rules of the road and does not mimic other drivers' behaviors.
