What you can expect from a driverless Waymo ride
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Within the first five minutes of my first Waymo ride, I couldn't wait to book again. Photo: McKenzie Rankin/Axios
I rode in a car with no driver in Austin twice. And by the second trip, it already felt normal.
Why it matters: Waymo is already street-mapping the city with human drivers. Once testing is complete, the company's driverless fleet will roll out in phases.
Zoom out: Right now, Waymo operates in cities like Austin, Phoenix, San Francisco and Los Angeles, with more on the way.
- Waymo reps told Axios there's no timeline yet for when fully autonomous rides will launch in Charlotte.
Here's what I learned from my recent ride.
No driver = a more predictable experience
With no one behind the wheel, it removes many of the downsides of human rideshares, from safety concerns to getting stuck in small talk you didn't start.
- You can enjoy the ride in silence or put on music (you can choose from a selection of playlists and, bonus, no one's there to judge your taste).
- My first Waymo picked me up on a busy street in downtown Austin. It parallel-parked perfectly and greeted me when I entered.
The novelty wears off quickly
During your ride, you can keep track of your route and arrival time on a screen while the steering wheel turns on its own.
- At first, I was hyper aware that no one was driving. But once I noticed how cautious these robotaxis drive, that feeling faded pretty quickly.
You may be alone, but you're not unchecked
The car is constantly monitoring what's happening, including you.
- At one point, I took my seatbelt off as we were pulling up to my stop. The car stopped and an automated voice warned it would connect me to a live support person if I didn't buckle back up...I buckled for the extra five seconds.
- It also reminds you to grab your belongings and can detect if something is left behind. There's a live support option built in, too.
It drives really cautiously, at least for now
The ride is smooth, but these cars definitely play it safe. Mine drove like an overly cautious teenager taking their license test, following every little rule and adhering to the speed limit, if not a little under.
- There's no distracted driving, no checking a phone, no missed turn signals.
- The technology also detects pedestrians, triggering a couple of abrupt stops during my ride.
Yes, but: Waymo acknowledges there are flaws in the car's submissive functionality, sometimes causing major disruptions. The Wall Street Journal reported that the company is now working to change this by making them more "confidently assertive."
The intrigue: Waymo also typically avoids highways, though it has started rolling out autonomous freeway rides in some cities. If that ever comes to Charlotte, it'll need that extra assertiveness for places like exit 3A.
My thought bubble: At first, it feels like you're in a sci-fi movie. Then it just feels like a ride. And when it finally launches in Charlotte, I won't hesitate to get in again.