5 days ago
Yo, robot: A word or two from Boston humans about self-driving taxis
The parochialism of my fellow Bostonians can be embarrassing sometimes. I've used Waymos in LA — hardly a paradise for drivers — and they did an incredible job. Not once did my Waymo sit at a green light because it was busy looking at its phone. (E Zola)
The only thing worse than a Boston driver is a Boston pedestrian. You will realize this by visiting other cities where drivers and pedestrians actually obey rules and laws. Having computers guiding cars can only be an improvement. (NicksterNH)
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How can they be programmed to know that using your blinker is a sign of weakness? (mrdman850)
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I don't think they will do well in Boston when traffic is heavy because they have a hard time merging into traffic. I have used Waymo a few times in both LA and San Francisco. When humans are trying to pull into the traffic lane from the side of the road there, a decent person will eventually give way and let the car in. I noticed in California that drivers are less likely to yield to a car with no driver. At one point I sat in a car for 15 minutes as it tried to merge, and I eventually got out and called an Uber. (Tim_Hill)
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Years ago when my wife and I moved from Texas, where the road signs read, 'Drive Friendly,' to the city of Boston, where there is no such thing, we were rudely welcomed with many car horns for our ineptitude, particularly if we were first in line at an intersection and wanted to turn left but failed to bolt when the light turned green. We eventually learned, but only after months of cowardice. (MisterEd47)
Welcome to the definition of 3 milliseconds: the time from when the light turns green until someone honks at you. (user_1127668)
AI is coming for the human race. Make no mistake about it. In 100 years the human, as we know it today, will be extinct. (dewitt clinton)
