←back to thread

Waymo granted permit to begin testing in New York City

(www.cnbc.com)
597 points achristmascarl | 7 comments | 22 Aug 25 17:02 UTC | HN request time: 0.423s | source | bottom
Show context
afcool83 ◴[22 Aug 25 19:20 UTC] No.44988724[source]▶
I live in one of the areas they are actively testing/training in. Their cars consistently behave better and more safely than most human drivers that I’m forced to share the road with.

As semi-autonomous and autonomous cars become the norm, I would adore to see obtaining a drivers license ratchet up in difficulty in order to remove dangerous human drivers from the road.

replies(17): >>44988828 #>>44988868 #>>44989177 #>>44989308 #>>44989330 #>>44989469 #>>44991099 #>>44991289 #>>44991364 #>>44991734 #>>44992111 #>>44992248 #>>44992992 #>>44993041 #>>44993645 #>>44997874 #>>45040367 #
gibolt ◴[22 Aug 25 19:34 UTC] No.44988868[source]▶
The real issue is all the current bad drivers. A requirement to start re-testing normal people in addition to the elderly would be a large benefit to society.
replies(7): >>44988942 #>>44989017 #>>44989038 #>>44989108 #>>44989130 #>>44989398 #>>44989807 #
rs186 ◴[22 Aug 25 19:50 UTC] No.44989017[source]▶
Complete unrelated, I just wish every driver on the road re-learn that cyclists have the same rights of being on city roads like cars.
replies(5): >>44989178 #>>44989225 #>>44989299 #>>44990008 #>>44992270 #
1. Foofoobar12345 ◴[22 Aug 25 20:05 UTC] No.44989178[source]▶
And I wish cyclists would re-learn that pedestrians have more rights of being on sidewalks. That said, the bigger plague on sidewalks are e-scooters.

Additionally, most cyclists I see never stop at stop signs no matter how busy the intersection is.

replies(4): >>44989313 #>>44989323 #>>44990055 #>>44991208 #
2. decimalenough ◴[22 Aug 25 20:18 UTC] No.44989313[source]▶
That's the "Idaho stop". You're moving at speeds slow enough to be easily able to check for traffic without stopping, plus losing inertia as a cyclist is much more annoying (and arguably even dangerous) than for a car.
replies(1): >>44989791 #
3. nsnick ◴[22 Aug 25 20:19 UTC] No.44989323[source]▶
In many places cyclists are not required to stop for stop signs.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idaho_stop

replies(1): >>44992475 #
4. gibolt ◴[22 Aug 25 21:03 UTC] No.44989791[source]▶
From a driver's perspective, you don't want to wait an extra 5-10 seconds because now the bike in front of you has to get back up to speed. 0-5mph is the slowest change and the most energy
5. stronglikedan ◴[22 Aug 25 21:30 UTC] No.44990055[source]▶
> And I wish cyclists would re-learn that pedestrians have more rights of being on sidewalks.

That's not universal, but I do wish they would just learn those laws for their state.

In my state, they have equal rights, and that is that no one has the right of way. If you run into someone, it's your fault full stop. If you couldn't stop in time, then you were travelling too fast for the situation. If someone is blocking the sidewalk, they're a dick, but you can't do anything about it without getting arrested except to find another way around.

Also, if you're on a bike and about to pass a pedestrian, you must give an audible (to the ped) signal so as to warn of your approach. Even then, if you hit them, it's because you were going to fast to stop safely in case they wandered into your path.

I love the laws in my state regarding shared cycling/pedestrian ways, and sidewalks in particular. Very reasonable and fair.

6. ◴[22 Aug 25 23:28 UTC] No.44991208[source]▶
7. ◴[23 Aug 25 02:23 UTC] No.44992475[source]▶