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Waymos crash less than human drivers

(www.understandingai.org)
345 points rbanffy | 10 comments | | HN request time: 0.75s | source | bottom
1. devit ◴[] No.43493082[source]
But can they drive as aggressively as human drivers can? (which does probably increase accident rates a bit, but also can make rides 10-20% faster, especially if executed by an automated system that needs less safety margin)

1. Go as fast as possible without getting fines, violating speed limits whenever it's very likely to not be fined, doing maximum acceleration as needed (the latter configurable by the latter)

2. When there's congestion on the lane they need to take, take a free lane instead and then merge into the correct lane at the last possible opportunity, effectively skipping the queue

3. Run red lights when it can determine there is no enforcement camera on the traffic light, no police and no traffic

4. Aggressively do not yield to pedestrians unless unavoidable on crosswalks, swerving on the lane going the opposite direction as needed if pedestrians are on the side the vehicle is in

5. Aggressively pass slower drivers using opposite-direction lanes even when forbidden as long as the software can determine that it can reenter the lane before colliding with incoming traffic

6. Use barred parts of the road including sidewalks to bypass traffic when it's feasible to do so

7. Aggressively flash lights and tailgate on highways when on the fastest lane but behind a slower vehicle

8. When an emergency vehicle passes by, follow it closely to take advantage of its right of way

9. Aggressively do U-turns even when forbidden if it is determined to be possible

10. Ignore stop signs when it can see there is no traffic, and when it can't determine that plan to do maximal braking at the last moment if it sees any (the maximum braking needs to be rider configurable)

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2. Invictus0 ◴[] No.43493127[source]
Found the New Yorker
3. breckenedge ◴[] No.43493130[source]
I recently took an Uber ride like this and can’t say it was pleasant. I’d rather the drive be 10-20% slower. When I’m riding in an Uber I’m often multitasking, and sudden acceleration or braking makes that pretty difficult.
4. ConfusedDog ◴[] No.43493145[source]
Let's not let this guy build or train any AVs.
5. sublinear ◴[] No.43493186[source]
> 9. Aggressively do U-turns even when forbidden if it is determined to be possible

Just doing this until out of gas sounds like the easiest way to satisfy these constraints.

I wasn't going to comment, but I couldn't get this image out of my head nor stop laughing.

6. trollbridge ◴[] No.43493191[source]
I used to take the same route regularly (with little traffic) and started timing myself. Speeding like a maniac in a decent car maybe got me there in 27 minutes instead of 30. I concluded it wasn’t worth it to speed or drive aggressively at all.

Well, until I drove a Dodge Charger R/T for a week. I could get there in 15 minutes. It had insanely good handling, amazing braking (enabling more aggressive driving), and absurd acceleration and handling at high speeds.

I concluded that was the last thing I needed and I drive a 50mpg Beetle now.

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7. IshKebab ◴[] No.43493386[source]
> but also can make rides 10-20% faster

There's no way you're getting anywhere near 20% faster journey times by driving faster, unless you are seriously speeding and only travelling on motorways/highways.

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8. ninkendo ◴[] No.43493486[source]
I used to ride a motorcycle in the Bay Area and could get to work in less then 20 minutes, where a car would usually take me 60.

Lane splitting, driving 100mph when there’s enough space to do so, and generally being a maniac can get you places pretty quick. It can also pretty quickly make you dead. I survived 8 years of this commuting but I’d never do it again.

9. j_bum ◴[] No.43494102[source]
30 min -> 15 min is absolutely frightening lol.

But agreed on your first part. When I actively rush to get home, but have the car I passed 10 mins ago show up behind me at a stoplight, it makes me realize it’s not worth it.

I view traffic as a form of a packet delivery system with a bit of time tolerance in either direction. Trying to rush through is fruitless and dangerous.

But you saying you cut your drive by 50% makes me question everything! Is it a busy commute?

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10. trollbridge ◴[] No.43496336{3}[source]
Had lots of tight curves on it and quite a few places where you’d stop for a stop sign and then start up again. Fast engine = rocket off from those starts. Good handling = don’t need to decelerate in the curves.