At this point, it feels worthwhile to consider the possiblity that highly autonomous cars might never catch on. While the technology we have today is far superior to road trains and embedded highways of the past, SAE Level 4 and Level 5 EVs come with a whole bunch of legal ramifications and arguably need to be safer than humans to be viable in the private sector. In the fleet sector, autonomous vehicles could put taxi drivers out of work, and given recent fears of AI and automation, turbulent times could lead people to push back, as we saw when that one Waymo got torched.
Speaking of Waymo, the company’s under scrutiny due to two autonomous vehicles crashing into the same tow truck. While AV proponents may argue that a truck being towed backwards on a tow truck is an edge case, it’s just a normal thing human drivers sometimes see on the roads. Mind you, it’s also a good chance to get a bit cinematic.
This latest Comment of the Day comes from Zelda Bumperthumper, who channeled Days Of Thunder to add some color to the latest Waymo incident.
Waymo Developer: All right. While we’re still in beta, I want you to go back out on that road and hit the tow truck.
Robotaxi: Hit the tow truck?
Waymo Developer: Hit the tow truck.
Robotaxi: What for?
Waymo Developer: Because you’re gonna hit every other goddamned thing out there, I want you to be perfect.
With nobody hurt in the incident, this is the sort of thing that’s okay to joke about. After all, if we don’t have humor, what do we have left? Anyway, that’s all from me today. I’ll be out covering the Toronto Auto Show from the ground tomorrow, so if there’s anything in particular you want to see, let me know in the comments below. Until next time, stay gold.
(Photo credits: Waymo)
Just in time for “Speed Week”
Robotaxi: I got to come back
Waymo Developer: I dont think so were busy now
Robotaxi: you’re what?
Waymo Developer: We’re eating Ice cream
Robotaxi: Ice Cream?
Robotaxi then hits other car, pedestrian and bicyclist making its way back home
And I was thinking the picture was a throw back to when Rossi ran in to Marquez, then kinda kicked him…
@IRegertNothing, Esq. should have won for tie-downs!
That was a good one. And so instantly evocative! I immediately set to considering, ahem, strategies for the bed of the F-150.
In my heart of hearts, I know that I won.
Now storm the Autopian’s headquarters!
I wouldn’t even call a tow truck an edge case. I see cars getting towed more often than I see Cadillacs, Pontiacs, or SAABs combined
Cadillacs, really??
I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a SAAB, and I definitely don’t see Pontiacs often…but I’m pretty sure I see Cadillacs more often than tow trucks, and possibly even still true if I exclude Escalades.
“I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a SAAB”
I saw a 96 (the model, not year) out in the wild just the other day.
There are still a few of us driving them.
I love the last generation of SAABs and always smile when I see one in the wild. I am especially impressed if the hood griffin sticker is still 100% there.
My 96 has a couple of stickers on the hood but, being from 1967, it’s a bit too old for a griffin:
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52548022975_0197f0c229_c.jpg
Nice!
The only place I ever see Cadillacs, Escalades included, is when I drive past a Chevy dealer. I’d say I see more Kia Stingers than Cadillacs in my part of NYC