Testing site

If you live in San Francisco, cars like this -- note there is no human driver -- are a common sight alongside when driving in traffic.

They seem to be everywhere, mostly moving along uneventfully. They are currently operating with a limited mandate to carry a population that seems to have volunteered for the service, human beta testers for the future. Apparently Cruise and Waymo are not charging yet for this taxi service -- but the developers hope to be fully licensed by the state Public Utilities Commission at a meeting on June 29.

The city of San Francisco is dubious. 

The number of reported traffic incidents involving self-driving taxis has surged this year in San Francisco, according to city officials seeking to block the state from giving a green light to such vehicles around the clock.

... San Francisco has served in a sense as a test lab for the new technology, but until now there have been tight constraints on the hours that robotaxis can be deployed as well as the neighborhoods where they are allowed. By contrast, Cruise wants to introduce a fleet of 100 vehicles that would operate around the city and around the clock — including downtown during commute hours. Waymo’s expansion would be similar.

The automated cars keep running into the unexpected on the streets. For example, a friend who lives next to where a Mission shooting incident happened last week, says one of these cars drove right through the middle of the the chaotic scene. They aren't yet fully programmed for human crime.

I don't know what I think. I'm very cautious crossing the street on foot when I realize one of these is in the intersection. But if perfected, they'll be more reliable drivers than we are.

It's interesting to know we're a science experiment.

• • •

Though I seem to be negative for COVID, I have not regained energy, so blogging may be light for a bit. That's okay: Donald Trump can get perp-walked without my commentary.