Have you ever ridden in a driverless car?
This writer had really wanted to experience one, so when we were visiting our kids in Scottsdale, Arizona, during Chol HaMoed, I persuaded my husband to give it a try since we were going to call a cab to take us somewhere anyway.
A fancy term for a car without a driver is an autonomous vehicle. My son-in-law used an app on his phone, similar to the Uber app, to call a Waymo car. The name “Waymo” is derived from the phrase “a new way forward in mobility,” reflecting the company’s mission to innovate in transportation technology.
My son-in-law explained that he would have to press something on his phone to unlock the car, a restriction that prevented nonpaying passengers from entering. That made sense, but it also caused a small prickle of worry because I wondered how we would open the car when it was time to get out. He assured me that he was pretty sure we would be able to open the door ourselves when we reached our destination, so I squelched my nervousness and waited for the Waymo to arrive.
A few minutes later, a white Jaguar with a rotating cylinder on top pulled up in front of the house. It was strange to see that there was no one behind the wheel. My son-in-law pressed something on his phone, the doors unlocked, and we opened the back door and slid into the car.
“Isn’t this great?” I asked.
My husband nodded as we settled into our seats, but I hesitated before closing the door because I was still wondering what would happen if we somehow got stuck inside. My son-in-law reassured me that we could call him if we needed him to do something, and he really believed the car would let us out without a problem. Before long, a voice inside the car urged us to close the door, so we did.
A screen facing us instructed us to push a button to start the ride, while a voice explained that if we needed any help, we could press the support button. The screen displayed our destination, the distance we had to travel, and the estimated number of minutes until our arrival. We pressed the button to begin the ride, and we were off.
There was also a choice of music, although we did not realize that at first. Soft, calming music played as we coasted along, making the experience feel surprisingly peaceful.
The car soon headed toward a busy street called Thunderbird, and I immediately wondered how it would manage to enter such a heavily traveled road. The Waymo waited patiently for the passing cars and then smoothly navigated a left turn onto Thunderbird.
“How did it know when it was clear to go?” I asked.
“It has sensors,” my husband explained.
The car continued driving at the speed limit, which I appreciated because I do not enjoy riding in cabs that speed. Amazingly, it switched lanes effortlessly, moved smoothly through a yield sign, and navigated a traffic circle without any difficulty. Watching the car handle all of this on its own was remarkable.
A few minutes later, we arrived at the car rental location, where a voice announced, “Here is your drop-off. Make sure to take your phone, keys, and wallet.”
For just a moment, I found myself thinking, Please, door, open.
Thankfully, the door opened easily, and we stepped out without any problem.
“Thank you,” I said to the invisible driver.
As I thought about this technological wonder, I was struck by what Hashem allows people to create. Human beings have the ability to develop so many astonishing inventions, yet things such as world peace and people simply getting along with one another remain so elusive. Somehow, it does not seem to make sense.
Autonomous cars have many advantages over traditional vehicles, and they may very well represent the cars of the future because they have the potential to make driving much safer. With less dependence on a human driver, there is also less opportunity for certain types of human error.
I interviewed a few people who had ridden in a Waymo before and asked them what they thought of the experience.
“It’s fun and exciting to ride,” one of my grandchildren said.
“I recommend it,” someone else told me.
“It’s cool to watch the steering wheel turn with no one turning it,” one of my daughters commented. “It’s cool the way it merges, the blinkers come on, and it turns by itself.”
So, the next time you are in Arizona or another place where you have the opportunity to take a Waymo, consider giving it a try. It is a fun and fascinating experience that offers a glimpse into what transportation may look like in the future.
By Susie Garber