Alex Mitchell, 33, became one of the first Britons to ride a Waymo driverless taxi during a trip to Atlanta, Georgia, for the World Cup last month. He said the experience was mind-blowing and that he felt safer than in a regular cab.
First Impressions and Booking Process
Mitchell spotted the distinctive vehicles with fan-like sensors on top and booked them via the Uber app. After tapping a button to unlock the doors, an AI voice welcomed him and instructed him to fasten his seatbelt. Passengers can choose their own music, and the tipping feature is disabled since there is no driver.
He described the first minute as partly mind-blowing and partly anxious, especially watching the steering wheel turn on its own. However, he quickly realized the vehicle's cameras tracked every pedestrian and cyclist in real time, which put him at ease.
Safety and Reliability
Mitchell reported no near-miss incidents during his four rides. He felt more secure than with human drivers, as the AI is not distracted by phones or passengers. Waymo, a subsidiary of Google, claims its technology reduces traffic accidents and protects pedestrians and cyclists.
However, the company faced a setback last month when a software issue caused some vehicles to get stuck on flooded roads, forcing a pause in five areas.
UK Readiness and Challenges
Waymo is reportedly months away from launching in London, and Uber is surveying customers about interest in driverless minicabs. UK firm Wayve is seeking permission from the Department for Transport, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, and Transport for London to operate autonomous vehicles.
Mitchell believes London's narrow roads and jaywalking habits pose significant challenges. In the US, pedestrians typically cross at designated crossings, whereas in the UK, people cross anywhere, which could confuse the AI. He also noted that two Waymo vehicles meeting at a junction hesitate due to identical programming, lacking a priority order.
Despite these concerns, Mitchell said he would use the service again and called it a good experience. He concluded that widespread autonomous vehicle adoption in the UK is still a long way off.
