Do Autonomous Vehicles Experience Impatience and Road Rage?
The Curious Case of Autonomous Vehicle Behavior
In his famous 1968 novel, sci-fi author Philip K. Dick pondered whether androids dream of electric sheep. Now, the world is left wondering if autonomous vehicles can experience impatience and road rage.
A Surprising Video
A recent YouTube video uploaded by user Kevin Chen has sparked this unlikely topic of discussion. The video showcases a Waymo self-driving test vehicle engaging in behavior that, if performed by a human driver, would be considered childish and dangerous. Waymo, the company behind the vehicle, has not yet provided a comment on the incident.
The Incident
The video captures an intersection in Los Angeles, California, specifically at the junction of Ocean Avenue and Washington Avenue. Two driverless Jaguar I-Paces operated by Waymo are seen side by side at a stop sign.
Questionable Behavior
As the vehicles wait for an opportunity to turn right, they slowly inch forward, with one vehicle crossing the stop line and entering the crosswalk. The other vehicle follows suit, creeping towards the intersection.
Eventually, a gap appears, and both vehicles continue to creep forward. However, they abruptly stop to allow a Chevrolet Volt to pass. At this point, the vehicle on the left accelerates, cutting off the vehicle on the right and forcing it to stop.
Although no collision occurs, this interaction raises concerns about the behavior of autonomous vehicles.
The Importance of Interactions
It is crucial for autonomous vehicles to interact effectively with other vehicles, especially those from the same company. While designing robots that can predict and respond to human behavior is challenging, it should be relatively easier for autonomous vehicles to interact with other robotaxis.
A Setback for the Industry
While the full context of this incident remains unknown, it is undoubtedly an embarrassing moment for an industry that is striving to repair its image after a series of safety issues in the past year.
Read: Waymo’s Data Claims Its Driverless Cars Are 6.7 Times Safer Than You Humans
As autonomous vehicles continue to evolve, it is essential to address their ability to navigate complex traffic scenarios and interact appropriately with other vehicles on the road.