Who's Really in the Driver's Seat?

In 2026, the idea of flying cars has not become reality yet; however, self-driving cars have become a fairly new innovation that people from all over the world find fascinating and strikingly different from other projects in the past. Zooming in closer, Waymo, specifically, has been prominently utilized starting in Silicon Valley, and now the greater California region and a few other states, including Arizona, Texas, Georgia, Florida, Nevada, and Colorado (Waymo). Waymo brings many benefits and solutions to long-standing issues in regular ride-share services. For instance, the safety concern of being picked up by a stranger for regular ride-share services has been resolved through Waymo’s self-driving technology, as well as a statistically safer driving experience (The Driverless Digest). For many people, the sudden jump in implementing new technology that allows cars to be able to drive themselves across large cities has forced them to overlook the technology that works behind the wheel. While there are many benefits and advancements to technology that Waymo and other self-driving cars bring, there are also many external factors to consider before society should fully rely on this new innovation.

When Waymo was first introduced to Phoenix, Arizona in October 2020 and eventually San Francisco, California in mid-2024, people were eager to try out the new technology. Gerelt Khurelbaatar ‘27, a San Francisco resident, comments that Waymo is “really good at driving” and “has been [in SF] for a while.” The convenience of Waymo is undeniable—all you have to do is find your destination point, as with any ride-share app, and the self-driving car finds its way to the pickup spot. Many safety features, including app-locked doors (doors that only unlock when the rider clicks “unlock” in the app), safe exit alerts that assist you in safely exiting the vehicle with its 360-degree autonomous sensors, and locked-out controls where the steering wheel and pedals are isolated from passengers, preventing accidental bumps or tampering with the vehicle. Statistically, there are roughly 85% to 95% fewer serious car accidents than a human driver (Waymo Safety Impact). For those with disabilities that impact their independence and ability to drive or conveniently use ride-share, Waymo assists in their transportation needs through its convenient access. Furthermore, Waymo also operates heavily in the evenings when the number of ride-share drivers available normally lessens, allowing riders to struggle less when trying to get a ride. 

There are many other factors to consider with self-driving cars. When the idea of Waymo and other self-driving cars was presented, many assumed this would mean lower costs for ride services. However, Waymo rides are actually approximately 12.7% more expensive than Uber rides. Due to high demand for self-driving car services, limited vehicle supply, and high startup expenses, Waymo tends to lean toward the higher price range than traditional ride-share. Fortunately, this means that Waymo prices will continue to decrease over time as the company stabilizes and lowers its hardware costs (TechCrunch). When it comes to the disadvantages and behind-the-scenes work of self-driving cars, there are a few factors to consider: 1) responsibility, 2) driving jobs, 3) infrastructure, and 4) human labor.

1) Cherise Thain ‘28 raises an important question: “Who holds the responsibility when a car crash happens?” According to Vaziri Law, it is usually either Waymo, an external driver, or a manufacturer that holds responsibility for the crash. Depending on the context of the crash, similar to traditional driving scenarios, the responsibility depends on who caused it.

2) Another considerable factor is the fact that “Waymo takes over driving jobs like Uber,” Alvaro Gaxiola ‘28 notes. Business Insider claims that Waymo holds a significant portion of ride-share trips rather than the traditional ride-share companies, which disadvantages traditional ride-share companies. Ironically, in select cities such as Austin and Atlanta, Uber has implemented a hybrid feature where riders can request a Waymo through the Uber app (Uber). However, as Waymo and other self-driving car companies and Uber and other traditional ride-share companies become more direct competitors, this feature may not remain a feasible option.

3) Along with that, infrastructure in cities may need shifting. What riders may not think of when taking a Waymo is where a Waymo “rests” when it is not actively taking rides. Usually, a Waymo finds a legal empty parking space in the city, but there are also designated Waymo parking lots where Waymo can recharge and rest. Cities also need to consider convenient pick-up and drop-off locations to avoid congestion, and safety factors like emergency vehicle access or routes (Business Insider). Cache Ripple ‘27 also believes that “Waymo can cause congestion,” and Henry Milton ‘27 interjects that “they can sometimes cause traffic if someone purposely blocks it so that it can’t move.” Olivia Huang ‘27 also states, “Drivers can take advantage of Waymo on the roads since Waymo are too cautious”; standoffs between self-driving cars and other vehicles happen more often than they should. ABC7 San Francisco reports that on July 4, 2026, Waymo's gridlock clogged the streets, some lost power, and one ran over lit fireworks.

4) Lastly, there is a significant amount of hidden human labor that goes behind the technology of self-driving cars. On-site workers and large crews of workers have to assist in servicing vehicles as they return (Business Insider). Similarly, Waymo has admitted to using remote guidance workers—specifically overseas contractors like the Philippines—to assist in providing solutions to real-time AI errors with technology (KTLA 5). Without acknowledging the human labor that happens behind the scenes, technological innovation will not be able to improve in an ethical manner, nor will it provide a feasible solution to current traditional ride-shares.

At the Stevenson Upper Campus, there are many mixed feelings about whether Waymos are safe and reliable or not. Of those interviewed, only around 66% of students believed it is safe to rely on Waymo for rides. Youlia Estrada ‘29 believes, “Waymo is not safe, and I wouldn’t go in one.” Similarly, Ella Wang ‘27 remarks, “I wouldn’t go in one unless it was completely necessary.” Contrastingly, Alex Gaxiola ‘27 states, “I have been in a Waymo before, and I think it’s safe.” As Waymos are still developing, mixed reactions continue to surface, as the technology itself is still a new idea to some. 

While it is undeniable that Waymo has numerous advantages and marks a huge step in technological advancements, it also has its downsides that people often overlook. As long as these factors are taken into consideration, Waymo and other self-driving cars have the potential to become the future and what people rely on in their daily lives.