Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Locals reportedly frustrated with Waymo's self-driving cars

cnbc.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

11–20 of 166 posts

Re: Locals reportedly frustrated with Waymo's self-driving cars

#11

Post by hn_throwaway_99 »

syntaxing wrote: post #3

I'm really curious whether this frustration is truly because of the limitation of the technology(which is totally possible) or because of some sort of cognitive bias/confirmation. Would they feel the same frustration if the van had no decals or visible sensors? Are they more frustrated at the cars more than the other drivers? Community "anger" can be really perplexing like how a community of people were complaining a…

If you read the article, though, people are particularly frustrated about how the cars, which are purposefully programmed to err on the conservative side, are slow and halting where other drivers could handle a T-intersection with ease.

Honestly, it sounds like the same kind of frustration I hear with people reacting to elderly, overly cautious drivers.

Re: Locals reportedly frustrated with Waymo's self-driving cars

#12

Post by zamalek »

klodolph wrote: post #6
syntaxing wrote: post #3

I'm really curious whether this frustration is truly because of the limitation of the technology(which is totally possible) or because of some sort of cognitive bias/confirmation. Would they feel the same frustration if the van had no decals or visible sensors? Are they more frustrated at the cars more than the other drivers? Community "anger" can be really perplexing like how a community of people were complaining a…

I'm also wondering what part of this is due to them being programmed to follow the letter of the law, instead of driving like other drivers.

As someone who attempts to follow the letter of the law, I experience quite a few incidents of aggressive driving. The complaints here are really just demonstrating how bad humans are at driving - the frustration probably arises due to the fact that they are unable to intimidate the driver in front of them with aggressive behavior.

> One woman said that she almost hit one of the company's minivans because it suddenly stopped while trying to make a right turn

By following the correct speed limit and following distance, you will have ample time to react to any silly behavior. Not that I for one second believe that a self-driving car would make a sudden stop in order to make a predetermined turn.

Re: Locals reportedly frustrated with Waymo's self-driving cars

#13

Post by 0x4f3759df »

crazygringo wrote: post #2

> More than a dozen locals told The Information they they hated the cars I'm sure you could also find more than a dozen locals who hate other human drivers

People also hate sidewalks [1], bike lanes, scooters, gentrification

http://www.startribune.com/sidewalks-get-some-love-in-edina/...

Re: Locals reportedly frustrated with Waymo's self-driving cars

#14

Post by vorpalhex »

klodolph wrote: post #6
syntaxing wrote: post #3

I'm really curious whether this frustration is truly because of the limitation of the technology(which is totally possible) or because of some sort of cognitive bias/confirmation. Would they feel the same frustration if the van had no decals or visible sensors? Are they more frustrated at the cars more than the other drivers? Community "anger" can be really perplexing like how a community of people were complaining a…

I'm also wondering what part of this is due to them being programmed to follow the letter of the law, instead of driving like other drivers.

That is a real problem that I'm curious to see how Alphabet solves. In many areas of the country, the posted speed limit is often much lower than the realistic speed cars are going - following the letter of the law becomes unsafe behavior when you're going 15mph slower than everyone else.

Of course, the answer here is probably the most boring: following the letter of the law ensures the least liability.

Re: Locals reportedly frustrated with Waymo's self-driving cars

#16

Post by jrockway »

I don't think I've ever heard anyone say they like conservative driving. "I would have risked that left turn, so you should have too. The person with the green light would have slowed down to avoid an accident, probably, and I would have gotten to the next red light 10 seconds sooner!"

You will also hear this when talking about less-capable drivers ("get off the road, grandma!") or less-capable vehicles ("I hate having to slow down for bikes and drive carefully around them.").

And of course, nobody ever says "you're going 80, the speed limit is 55! slow down!"

As a result, traffic accidents are the leading cause of death for people from 8-24.

Re: Locals reportedly frustrated with Waymo's self-driving cars

#17

Post by mulletbum »

zamalek wrote: post #12
klodolph wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm also wondering what part of this is due to them being programmed to follow the letter of the law, instead of driving like other drivers.

As someone who attempts to follow the letter of the law, I experience quite a few incidents of aggressive driving. The complaints here are really just demonstrating how bad humans are at driving - the frustration probably arises due to the fact that they are unable to intimidate the driver in front of them with aggressive behavior. > One woman said that she almost hit one of the company's minivans because it suddenly…

>Not that I for one second believe that a self-driving car would make a sudden stop in order to make a predetermined turn.

Did you really mean this or is it sarcasm?

Re: Locals reportedly frustrated with Waymo's self-driving cars

#18

Post by vorpalhex »

briandear wrote: post #9
crazygringo wrote: post #2

> More than a dozen locals told The Information they they hated the cars I'm sure you could also find more than a dozen locals who hate other human drivers

Totally. On the 280 near the 85 interchange — human drivers apparently think merging involves slowing down to let cars enter rather than the entering cars accelerating to the speed of traffic. Creates this yo-yo effect because Silicon Valley drivers have been badly programmed in how to drive.

I wish I could force people who break at merges to try merging with a line of parked cars. Leave a gap, keep a consistent speed.

Re: Locals reportedly frustrated with Waymo's self-driving cars

#20

Post by cozzyd »

vorpalhex wrote: post #14
klodolph wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm also wondering what part of this is due to them being programmed to follow the letter of the law, instead of driving like other drivers.

That is a real problem that I'm curious to see how Alphabet solves. In many areas of the country, the posted speed limit is often much lower than the realistic speed cars are going - following the letter of the law becomes unsafe behavior when you're going 15mph slower than everyone else. Of course, the answer here is probably the most boring: following the letter of the law ensures the least liability.

Automated vehicles could finally follow speed limits, stop blocking buses and bike lanes, and yield to pedestrians. What's not to like about that?
Post reply on HN