As a nerd I’m exited about the idea of a self driving car, as a black person I can’t wait until this is an option on every street!
A driverless car has no time to be racist! Also for women this will be a brilliant option!
We're going commercial
31–37 of 37 posts
Re: We're going commercial
#32Earlier quoted context omitted.
From a customer's perspective, it isn't clear that a software taxi driver is in any way better than a human taxi driver, particularly with human driver assist preventing collisions and all the other warnings provided by a modern car. In both cases someone else is driving for the customer. With a human driver (plus driver assist breaking and collision warnings) you have the most flexible, sophisticated intelligence on…
Software can't rape you. I'm serious. I think that automated taxis will be a boon to women who want to go somewhere at night but don't want to go there by means of an unscrupulous stranger.
Very good point Teever. Software also doesn't make small talk when you aren't interested. I've also had some drivers that could not follow a GPS well at all.
Re: We're going commercial
#33Earlier quoted context omitted.
Nah current prices are sustainable. Self driving cars should get us 1/5th of the prices going forward imo.
Based on what? Ride share companies don't absorb any of the cost of vehicle maintenance, insurance, or fuel. Drivers are subsidizing a significant amount of the capital costs of running a taxi business that isn't exactly reflected in prices. Additionally there's the problem of the market tolerating current prices. Like gasoline, even if the cost comes down it doesn't mean price goes down. Profit margins will increase…
> Based on what? Ride share companies don't absorb any of the cost of vehicle maintenance, insurance, or fuel. Drivers are subsidizing a significant amount of the capital costs of running a taxi business that isn't exactly reflected in prices.
Ultimately there's profit, drivers wouldn't do it if it weren't profitable.
> Additionally there's the problem of the market tolerating current prices. Like gasoline, even if the cost comes down it doesn't mean price goes down. Profit margins will increase if the market can sustain current prices.
I see a lot of competition in the space and the history of taxi services has been one of very low prices so I see the trend to continue in self driving.
Re: We're going commercial
#34Earlier quoted context omitted.
Not being able to get a taxi? I don't really see how your question relates.
Well, this is a substitute for a person driven taxi. "Not being able to get a taxi" is a confusing reply, since this assumption is wrong. My question begore relates to what you think are the disadvantages, since you asked "Why is this better than a normal taxi?". I beliebe its the same, just no driver from the consumers point of view, is it not?
Okay, well, the disadvantage is it is not driven by a person, so it is less safe, and less flexible.
What would be any of the advantages of it?
Re: We're going commercial
#35Earlier quoted context omitted.
Well, this is a substitute for a person driven taxi. "Not being able to get a taxi" is a confusing reply, since this assumption is wrong. My question begore relates to what you think are the disadvantages, since you asked "Why is this better than a normal taxi?". I beliebe its the same, just no driver from the consumers point of view, is it not?
Okay, well, the disadvantage is it is not driven by a person, so it is less safe, and less flexible. What would be any of the advantages of it?
Less safe is up to the statistics. My guess is that its safe "enough" right now and only gets safer beyond humans. But the other point is more interesting: Flexibility. Since you don't need a driver, you can have a different kind of fleet management that - yes, I am an optimist - would be more available 24/7 than with human drivers.
Re: We're going commercial
#36Earlier quoted context omitted.
I think another draw would be its safety which at least as planned is supposed to be greater and consistent while with human driver you never know what you’re getting For non-us markets it’s also integrity. No more shenanigans like calling rider and asking to cancel the ride bc the driver didn’t like it
There should also be a huge tipping point in safety and efficiency when all (or almost all) cars go fully autonomous. With cars all communicating p2p in a local mesh to avoid collisions and improve throughput, apart from reducing accidents even further, you could safely turn all highways into autobahns with much higher speed limits. Even if it’s a long way off, I welcome any progress in this direction. We’re all very…
Well good news is Kyle was super adamant about substantially reducing car accidents as one of the stated goals when I worked there. In contrast to some other well known ceos who seem to ngaf one way or another…
Re: We're going commercial
#37Earlier quoted context omitted.
Okay, well, the disadvantage is it is not driven by a person, so it is less safe, and less flexible. What would be any of the advantages of it?
Less safe is up to the statistics. My guess is that its safe "enough" right now and only gets safer beyond humans. But the other point is more interesting: Flexibility. Since you don't need a driver, you can have a different kind of fleet management that - yes, I am an optimist - would be more available 24/7 than with human drivers.
See that's the thing, I don't see how it can ever be safer than all but the least competent human drivers.
I have yet to see an autonomous vehicle that could cope with anything other than a completely unobstructed road with everyone behaving themselves, and I can't see a way for autonomous vehicles to progress beyond that.
If you don't think taxis are available 24/7, you haven't met anyone that drives a taxi. Someone is always up and about.