4 ms·

> If you've ever driven behind a Waymo vehicle, they're annoyingly strict when it comes to following posted speed limits, stopping for obstacles, and reacting/e

by mcny 7y ago

> If you've ever driven behind a Waymo vehicle, they're annoyingly strict when it comes to following posted speed limits, stopping for obstacles, and reacting/erring on the side of caution. It's an infuriating exercise in patience but I hope that it will pay off in the long term. I've noticed when I am riding with a good (human) driver who obeys pretty much all rules of the road and drives slower than the posted speed limit (at a speed they are comfortable driving) that there are always a few drivers behind us who will honk their horns, flash their lights, or even pass into the next lane just to pass back a little too close for comfort. I don't know if they are always horrible humans but that's besides the point. How would a self-driving car react in such a situation? Would human drivers be better behaved around a Waymo vehicle because the Waymo car has a lot of cameras and sensors and can pretty much show a clear cut case of road rage?

dkonofalski 7y ago
This is exactly where I think that Waymo wouldn't get into that situation. A Waymo vehicle would let the car in as its cameras will actually react to the turn signal. Technically, a line of cars could stop a Waymo vehicle in its tracks just by getting next to it and turning their blinkers on. The car would try to yield and zipper merge but will almost always defer to letting cars in if they get too close. Again, it's super annoying as a human but I think I prefer how conservative they are when it comes to safety.
CamperBob2 7y ago
Speed limits are generally set too low. Someone driving even slower than the posted limit can often be assumed to be intoxicated or impaired.
- Piskvorrr 7y ago
  Sorry, any speed limit will be "too low"; people will consistently drive at appx the speed limit +15%, whatever the number. Shifting the speed limit to old limit1.15 will result in speeds of new limit1.15.
  - CamperBob2 7y ago
    That's not how it works, because it turns out that drivers are generally not suicidal. The studies have been done, they've been replicated, and the statistics are very clear. Google the '85th percentile rule'.

by mcny 7y ago

dkonofalski 7y ago

This is exactly where I think that Waymo wouldn't get into that situation. A Waymo vehicle would let the car in as its cameras will actually react to the turn signal. Technically, a line of cars could stop a Waymo vehicle in its tracks just by getting next to it and turning their blinkers on. The car would try to yield and zipper merge but will almost always defer to letting cars in if they get too close. Again, it's super annoying as a human but I think I prefer how conservative they are when it comes to safety.

CamperBob2 7y ago

Speed limits are generally set too low. Someone driving even slower than the posted limit can often be assumed to be intoxicated or impaired.

Piskvorrr 7y ago
Sorry, any speed limit will be "too low"; people will consistently drive at appx the speed limit +15%, whatever the number. Shifting the speed limit to old limit1.15 will result in speeds of new limit1.15.
- CamperBob2 7y ago
  That's not how it works, because it turns out that drivers are generally not suicidal. The studies have been done, they've been replicated, and the statistics are very clear. Google the '85th percentile rule'.