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Recently I have been noticing how Uber/Lyft drivers in NYC are "gps sheep". The lack of common sense is astounding to me. They are very often only listening to

by avel 10y ago

Recently I have been noticing how Uber/Lyft drivers in NYC are "gps sheep". The lack of common sense is astounding to me. They are very often only listening to their gps and nothing else. One time, a driver chose to circle around after two blocks instead of turning directly right at an intersection, because Waze said it had a lot of traffic and therefore chose that route. If he had bothered to turn his head right, he'd see that the road was empty.

e1g 10y ago
Following the GPS has two benefits: assure the passenger they aren't being ripped off with dubious/scenic routes, and remove the mental load from the driver on each intersection. Any single trip could be faster by couple minutes of done by a local, or longer+pricier if done by a crafty taxi driver. The GPS narrows this variability, pacifies the passenger, and let's the driver focus on the driving vs the routing. But yes, this sound general strategy can be frustrating in a local-maximum situation.
- Spooky23 10y ago
  That's a great example of the problem with all of this stuff -- both driver and passenger are blithering idiots who have no idea where they are. A professional driver should know how to drive their city. Some good friends moved to the North Shore near Boston about 10 years ago. We visit 3-4 times a year. They are big GPS people, and know nothing about navigating the region. If we go somewhere, can get us there more sensibly just about any time. It mind blowing to me. I always drive and/or walk around any new place I visit for more than a day. I like to know where I am.
nwjtkjn 10y ago
I have a much bigger problem with the driver who is too busy talking on the phone or giving me their card to even take the exits the GPS is telling them to take. I can't wait for self driving taxi services.
cloudjacker 10y ago
A lot of the drivers are opportunists from outside of the area. They don't know, and in NYC in particular many are fresh off the boat, the yellow cab drivers were no different only slightly better connected to obtain a yellow cab.

by avel 10y ago

e1g 10y ago

Following the GPS has two benefits: assure the passenger they aren't being ripped off with dubious/scenic routes, and remove the mental load from the driver on each intersection. Any single trip could be faster by couple minutes of done by a local, or longer+pricier if done by a crafty taxi driver. The GPS narrows this variability, pacifies the passenger, and let's the driver focus on the driving vs the routing. But yes, this sound general strategy can be frustrating in a local-maximum situation.

Spooky23 10y ago
That's a great example of the problem with all of this stuff -- both driver and passenger are blithering idiots who have no idea where they are. A professional driver should know how to drive their city. Some good friends moved to the North Shore near Boston about 10 years ago. We visit 3-4 times a year. They are big GPS people, and know nothing about navigating the region. If we go somewhere, can get us there more sensibly just about any time. It mind blowing to me. I always drive and/or walk around any new place I visit for more than a day. I like to know where I am.

nwjtkjn 10y ago

I have a much bigger problem with the driver who is too busy talking on the phone or giving me their card to even take the exits the GPS is telling them to take. I can't wait for self driving taxi services.

cloudjacker 10y ago

A lot of the drivers are opportunists from outside of the area. They don't know, and in NYC in particular many are fresh off the boat, the yellow cab drivers were no different only slightly better connected to obtain a yellow cab.