Is Waymo The Best Taxi Ride Ever?- The Carmudgeon Show w/ Jason Cammisa & Derek Tam-Scott - Ep 149

[@TheCarmudgeonShow]

This episode is sponsored by Vyper Industrial - America’s #1 rated shop chair, tool carts, and creepers, proudly made here in the US. Go to www.vyperindustrial.com/ and use code HAGERTY for $50 off on all your order!

[@thesidejoe]

The weirdest thing is that DTS is on the left and Jason is on the right

[@TheCarmudgeonShow]

Oh dear, we failed to even think of that!

[@pirkkaruuska5766]

Again... I think episode 60 was the same thing. This f*cks my brain up. Though seeing DTM's anxiety makes it a bit easier.

[@johnnyboyj1929]

😂🤣😭😂🤣😭😂🤣😭

[@suad01]

Mirror your screen

[@griffins750]

TONIGHT! -WAYMO DRIVES ADAM SANDLER AND THE HYPHEN! -DEREK CANT ROAD RAGE -AND A MAN WALKS A DUCK! 🦆 😂

[@akshaysankarshana2405]

Only if this Podcast was for Top Gear USA....

[@michaelking6596]

It makes sense that Jaguars are now autonomous, they can't find buyers who want to drive them.. then make them drive themselves 😉

[@theroadblog2858]

That is so spot on!

[@joetz1]

The sad part is that the ipace drive amazingly. Better than 99% of the cars I’ve driven actually

[@Accost2u]

The hero here is Vangina in the background. Putting in the work without any of the credit. ✊

[@TheCarmudgeonShow]

My Van, Jynah, is always the unspoken hero.

[@Accost2u]

@@TheCarmudgeonShow my upmost apologies for the mislabeling!

[@productdesign9626]

@@TheCarmudgeonShow I knew before I clicked there would be such a response. Your Van, Jynah, deserves all the praise it gets.

[@P.Galore]

The performance of this Waymo car is astounding actually, especially in SF.

[@dustinlacy792]

The guy walking the dog and duck drives them around in a Ferrari California!

[@OVER5TEER]

yep, seen that dude too

[@productdesign9626]

Because of course he does

[@GAPrime]

I was riding around in Waymo's all over SFO last weekend. Used it 7 or 8 times. Including right down there in the Presidio. Sitting in the front seat isn't awkward, it's way nicer than the Camry that the Uber driver has, and once you get over the comfort factor that there is software driving this thing, I enjoyed the hell out of it. It got hung up a few times. But overall, I'm in on this. Solid 9/10.

[@cudak888]

22:04 - Its preference for the left lane is likely due to the high probability (and low detectability) of potential door zone crashes due to the parallel parked automobiles. That dense urban street is ridiculous as a four lane. It could do the job without the door zone risk with a road diet.

[@ShahSelbe]

Derek wants the cars to have more urgency but honestly it is the right thing for autonomous cars to err on the side of safety and caution

[@brucelanglois]

"At what point does Waymo sue us?" :) Honestly, this was really impressive. I can see why they had no issues letting them record this and put them on blast. I know that drive, and it is one of the most unpredictable and confusing drives you can do. That is some very impressive technology

[@kwisin1337]

Guy, this is real-world environmental situation. Both inside the car and out. You guys are awesome to listen to. Having so much fun.. very respectful. Well done.

[@lowstrife]

40:07 OMG I DIDNT KNOW YOU HAD IT PLATED AS THAT TOO LMFAO

[@griffins750]

That where the whole bit comes from 😂

[@AndreThompson925]

My favorite part of this video is the Vanjynah following like the 1968 Charger in Bullitt.

[@marijnvanbuuren]

I love how Derek got most exited on seeing a 190E

[@martingardens]

The right lane is where people open doors.

[@NOrlando952]

The waymo almost pounded Jasons Van Jynah but pulled away at the last second. What a tease.

[@Riversidebluecamaro]

So excited to see so much of your Vanjynah!

[@leotam3372]

I love that half the video is getting into the mind of DTS as he's driving in a city setting.

[@tomstech4390]

Jaguar: British British roundabouts: indicate direction, then indicate exit (DTS way).

[@productdesign9626]

Same in Australia (Western Australia anyway). Not that all that many drivers seem to know (or care)

[@cmmoll1]

There’s very few roundabouts in the US, so standard procedure here is to panic, freak out and do something completely arbitrary that nobody could have ever predicted. As for using turn signals 😂😂😂😢

[@michaelharrison1093]

Also the same in New Zealand

[@Zanpaa]

Same in France, indicate left when entering to turn left. At least in theory, because the average driver can't even bother using their right signal when exiting, which is incredibly annoying and creates congestion for no reason.

[@dougrobinson8602]

@@cmmoll1 I see a bunch of them. It's actually a rural area with a lot of truck traffic. I do it German-style. Don't signal entering (there's only one way to go), then signal for my exit. Everyone else is so freaked out by roundabouts that they probably aren't even looking at turn signals. The funny thing is that the roundabouts' radii are too tight to allow semi trucks to get through them cleanly, so the inner curbs are black from truck tires going over them.

[@evalonious]

I'm as blown away as Jason... Does it spit out fines (tickets) every time Jason Curses 😂

[@EUC-lid]

Jason doesn’t know how to use the three seashells 😂

[@evalonious]

@@EUC-lid Jason doesn't need 3 seashells.He just shits all over the place... 😅🙌❤️

[@Michael_Lorenson]

Excellent, thanks. Dude walking the duck was totally bonus.

[@JakeDrives1]

I lose it every time Jason starts cackling about his big gray Van, Jynah. 🤣💀

[@tiredoworking9350]

Brilliant episode! I'm encouraged that some of the elderly and stupid screen addicts, can be taken out of the drivers seat. And maybe, some lazy politicians will take their eyes off of speed restrictions and acknowledge that collisions are the result of a drivers, lack of attention. And it was an excellent idea to record from the car!👍

[@tonyclewes8]

Can one get spicy in the back of one of these things or does it have Puritan mode enabled ?

[@theo.cary_5142]

they added puritan mode when they started testing in SF haha

[@deathcab4booty]

There are manyyyyy reports of people fucking in the back of Cruise taxis

[@rizakatsudon]

12:55 the content we're here for

[@patrickf2386]

I swear, that only happens in the US...

[@ThePwig]

great video. it really helps to watch this instead of just listen. I really appreciate the instant replays. Very good work, y'all.

[@TakuroSpirit77]

As someone who actually just taught someone to drive, I would sure as Hell tell them to stay in the lane instead of chancing TWO lane changes just to save a few seconds of drive time. Its safer just to stay in the lane you need to be in one, two, three blocks ahead.

[@JK061996]

Really cool episode! Here in Italy it's only mandatory to signal right on exit but signaling left when appropriate is definitely helpful to other drivers (I always do it)

[@shaboiisaiah]

ive been in a hundred or so of these over the last couple of years in phoenix - these things are so cool

[@AlainSTO]

Honestly, I'd prefer these over the NYC taxis and ubers always running the red light, cutting you off, and cutting the line at exits.

[@DerekLikesCars]

Cara Van Jynah putting in WORK

[@thedarkenergist]

If this eventually takes any appreciable number of inattentive, lazy, apathetic, or uninformed/uninterested people out from behind the wheel of a car - then I'm all for it.

[@Zanpaa]

Exactly this. Make it an option for people who don't want to drive, let those who care drive themselves, and the roads will be much safer for everyone.

[@Druezy]

This is going to be an amazing time capsule!

[@davidkappos1781]

Agreed, All Drivers should be held up to at least the standard shown today. Traffic flow

[@jono6379]

It's funny that dereks problem with the waymo is it's too safe and cautious. The idea of self driving cars is interesting. I like the idea of dense city areas being exclusively for self driving cars. It would make getting around a lot easier and probably safer than random people driving as taxi drivers for uber or lyft. The biggest issue i could see is how many less competent companies start up when they see waymos success. I hope the governing bodies don't get lax with licencing and allow unqualified autonomous drivers on the road. Also i would like to see a standard set up for communication between the various companies self driving cars because that would make traffic management even better.

[@corysekine-pettite1783]

Interesting experiment! I'm glad WAYMO was good with your idea to do this. Kind of proves the tech is viable. I still don't know if I would use one, but this is kind of swaying me...

[@tngtacticalmiata1219]

I get it... I really do. But I'm driving my own damn car.

[@Zanpaa]

So do I, except sometimes I drink alcohol or I'm very tired and I can't safely drive myself. If my car could drive itself safely for those instances, that would be pretty nice.

[@Pauloajm15]

Fantastic show. Waymo is the real deal, it seems.

[@AndreThompson925]

I love watching the 49ers reporter David Lombardi and he rides these and says that Casper is driving. Honestly I would trust these drivers over many of the Lyft/Ubers I've ridden with.

[@galactictomato1434]

Really great episode. I had no idea autonomous vehicles were this advanced.

[@YourLoyalDeserter]

I'm amazed at the stuff you guys get away with lol

[@I-Libertine]

Sad that a Jag has become the Crown Vic of the AI age...

[@cormblue]

Given Jag's ownership history, can't say many would be surprised xD

[@griffins750]

Honestly it works, and if it helps keep Jaguar in business I’m happy with it.

[@jj481012]

womp womp

[@Iamthestig42069]

No v8, not body on frame, not built to last 400,000 miles, can't crash them and drive off. The crown Vic of the AI age literally doesn't exist

[@patrickf2386]

@@cormblue Given the driving history of most Jaaaag owners, it should definitely throw in some dodgy stuff once in a while. Like driving over your neighbours cat and then do a hit-and-run. Or just be generally unpredictable but kind of charming.

[@i3drivingnerd]

I saw some Waymo I-PACEs driving around in Venice Beach last month... wish I had time to book and try one.

[@robl7532]

Amazing. I would think this episode gets a ton of attention, as it is interesting for sure!

[@paulgaida2601]

Just brilliant! Great content.

[@gt_grandtouring]

Wow. This is just wow

[@rdiamond655]

Okay, convinced. This application of tech is damn cool. And a great video.

[@fearsomebeard4290]

Jason is even handsome in a driverless taxi.

[@YaroCarHustle]

I wonder if it can go through an automated car wash...

[@peterpodgorski]

1:10:55 in Polish "tip" is "napiwek", which literally translates to "for beer"

[@heyjero77]

Very interesting. More of this!

[@Pauloajm15]

What if you need to get out of the car for some reason (health, emergency) but you have not reached your destination? And what if you want to change/update your destination?

[@Dalamain]

Welcome to DELAMAIN

[@flat6croc]

This is, ultimately, the only good car podcast.

[@Zanpaa]

Smith and Sniff too!

[@flat6croc]

@@Zanpaa Not even close. Just for starters, the Sniff guy is so insufferably smug about his Top Gear days, as uncharitable it is to say the other guy is a little bit of a bore with questionable car taste / relatively limited interest in and grasp of what makes a good driver's car. TBH, the Sniff guy is questionable on both of those counts, too. By way of example, he had a PDK 997. QED. Absolutely no way Jason or DTS would choose PDK in a 997.2 Carrera. Theyr'e fun for a bit of light motoring esoterica, but not for proper car talk. Guys like Jason and DTS who know their stuff, 'get it' when it comes to driver's car, are articulate and educated, call it how it is and aren't lumbering under the weight of their own egos are vanishingly rare. Jethro Bovingdon is in that category, not so the other people he does a podcast with. The Intercooler pair take themselves, the subject and things like 'heritage' far too seriously, Smoking Tire, please, Collecting Cars was a parade of egos, etc etc etc. Autocar My Motoring Week is decent, if very low key. Matt Prior is good if rather non committal, Cropley is a bit of a fluff journo, always has been but is a little better on a pod than in print. As a combo, they don't really approach Jason and Derek. Nor does anyone else I am aware of.

[@alexhampton2802]

Different podcasts, S&S is a car adjacent piss take and is hilarious, this is a more 'serious' car pod that is also hilarious l. They're both brilliant.

[@flat6croc]

@@alexhampton2802 Take your point, and well put, re it being car adjacent. Unfortunately, I don't find them at all funny. Ironic really. As a general rule, Americans are pathologically unfunny when it's their job to be funny. But Jason and particularly DTS are a lot funnier. It helps that Jason and DTS aren't straining every sinew in their effort to be funny while adopting a contrived and unconvincing air of nonchalance, unlike Smith and Sniff. Jason and DTS are miles more authentic, less smug and knowing. I don't agree with everything they say, especially Jason, but god they're just so much more authentic.

[@davidprinz5300]

12:49 that man is walking a duck. 😆

[@lilairstrike535]

Derek is fuckin hilarious man!! 😂

[@Swiss4.2]

8:30 You guys call that a narrow road?

[@bluetoes591]

Fascinating. The damn things work. I saw them in San Fran last time i was down there, and was kinda disappointed i didn't see them do anything weird. But maybe they've actually figured it out. 👏

[@JeepAndThings]

I'm in Phoenix, and was behind a Waymo...Speed though a school zone (25 in a 15), but after it crossed the crosswalk where you can go normal speed it then slowed down to 15 for the next block. The 5 cars behind me didn't honk, probably because I'm in a lifted Jeep. It was lost I'd say because it missed slowing down where it should and didn't know if it could speed up. Lucky it was turning otherwise I would have. Normally would have honked at anyone doing that. Did I? No, because it wouldn't do any good. Was it frustrating? Yes.

[@rem3dy_e]

Regarding roundabouts, uk is as Derek said too

[@RobHervert]

@TheCarmudgeonShow The town you're looking for is Marquette

[@johnmetermaid]

Best episode of cash cab I've seen

[@Petrospect]

Waymo feels like a patch more than an actual solution for bad human driving but for what it's made to do, this is shockingly nice. That being said, I support human driving, I just think people that aren't interested in driving shouldn't be and the greater problem with the US is that you can't not drive, there is no infrastructure. With that in mind, this is a really impressive demonstration and I don't think I'd want it to be a lot more aggressive than it is because I get unsettled by cabbies as is, I'd rather it stayed conservative or you could choose between modes for sure. Also, I dig iPaces but it's a damn shame a Jaguar of all things is now in captivity as a taxi. Driving around San Francisco, I can see how Jason found a Miata more fun than his 986, also, 1:07:40 I wonder if that's the Bullitt intersection Pour boir is how it's said in Greek but it's been bastardized as one word said quickly that it never occured to me and I learned French! The more you know!

[@Maxxisblitz]

Driving in San Francisco looks absolutely harrowing. For some reason, the vestigial rearview mirror and especially the driver's seatbelt is very funny to me. (Last week, I was just listening to the "Most Innovative Cars" episode where the concept of this one originated. Odd.)

[@agildehaus]

The seat belt is very intentional. It's to discourage people from sitting in the driver's seat. Unbuckling that will stop the car.

[@CraigYope]

Just passed a Waymo idling at a roadside park out here in the country NE of Detroit. Wouldn't have known exactly what it was if I hadn't watched this video. 😉

[@cantcatchm3m5]

44:55 Phrasing! Better behind than IN Van Jynah

[@mchristr]

So when you're about to get t-boned at an intersection by the garden variety red light runner, does it pitch the car sideways to produce a glancing blow? That might be important.

[@jkj420]

This Derek guy is a real piece of work. I wouldn't trust him to drive with other cars around. Jeez.

[@phillyphil1513]

10:31 - yes, you'll notice Waymos actually navigate BETTER and MORE ACCURATE as the space around them tightens up due to the FASTER RETURN of the Radar and Lidar signals bouncing back over shorter distances. that "AH-64 Apache Grade" Sensor Array mounted to those Jags navigate around buildings and back alleys in Phoenix like nobody's business...🤙

[@2of2DCH]

@23:00 I find very few drivers are effecient. I'll see cars stacked 6 deep in one lane and none in the lane next to it. They rarely look ahead to notice someone turning and switch lanes to get around them. No they just meander down the road barely going the limit until that light turns yellow then all of a sudden they find the gas pedal and floor it thru the light. Edit: Holy moly I paused to make the comment and what do I hear but Jason say the same thing at @24:44! I like the "concious" term. Sums it up well.

[@one_velichkov]

I don't think I caught it but is that f-pace ev or gas powered?

[@TheCarmudgeonShow]

EV.

[@xtnuser5338]

It would be bad business to have switching lanes every block like a young male driver, just to save twenty seconds every once in a while. They MUST program it to drive like a conservative old lady, just minus the old lady mistakes.

[@pennytrui1149]

So no one is talking about how they brake checked waymo that was dangerous lmao, but so entertaining and waymo did a great job stopping and hitting the brakes. The only way you can make waymo honk is if you back into it and it has nowhere to go it will honk like "hey you're too close stop"

[@kevins718]

At least they can control the car that are brake checking the Waymo. And it’s a real life test

[@pennytrui1149]

@@kevins718 yes it's a real life test but I never thought someone would do a test like this. Literally no one has done a test like where they potentially almost tried to make waymo hit them lol. Most people just look at how it drives not "hey slam on the breaks to test waymos reaction". That's why I found it so crazy and literally no one's talking about it like what ☠️

[@pennytrui1149]

@@jasonk125 I agree when I was watching this I was like bro stop this is low-key not safe lmao and insane to test. Waymo did good tho

[@Zanpaa]

How is it crazy??? If the car isn't ready to react to a car brake checking it it would be absolutely insane to let it exist on public roads.

[@pennytrui1149]

@@Zanpaa but these dangerous test must be tested in a safe controlled area I'm sure waymo has tested the car it did really well on the brake check test good job on them. But I thought that was really pushing the test like people don't usually think "hey let's see if this car will hit us" ☠️

[@GODOFGUITAR2112]

I see a ton of Waymo’s in Tempe AZ. I should try one at

[@amyboehm802]

Where's the Sport + mode for this Waymo? She's way too polite, but probably very safe. BMW nation does not compute.

[@SuspectedCheater]

Jake is the gift that keeps on giving. Now i will imagine him as a crash test dummy sitting behind the camera with all the f-ery they have said and imagined him doing for the past episodes.

[@OasisLimoLV]

I’m willing to bet Waymo actually liked your impromptu brake tests.

[@jue_boy4135]

Haha hearing Jason talk about the driver take out the flask. No one tell him where I live you are physically allowed to drink a beer while driving

[@griffins750]

Just almost got into a crash while in an Uber listening to this 😑 Driver didn’t look left before pulling out, almost got us T-Boned by a Mercedes going probably 40ish mph.

[@jonathanbryant2439]

You should have had the van stop in front of you, then back up, both when you had a car behind you and when you didn’t. See if it would back up too or honk when it can’t escape.

[@tomfogle9607]

Fun and interesting. Until it parks between a car on fire and the fire engine that's trying to put it out. You guys touched on it briefly, but it's actually more of an issue than anyone wants you to think (except the firefighters and police.)

[@ATips1]

Hello, lifelong yooper (upper peninsula resident) reporting in. First, I'm extremely surprised by Derek's knowledge of the existence of Houghton, let alone him pronouncing it correctly. He's dead on about the hills, they're brutal in the winter, so much so that they close some of the worse ones off. When I was at school there I had an escort zx2 and even though I was an experienced winter driver there were some hills that were open and I'd still avoid like the plague. As far as autonomous vehicles up here, we have no infrastructure for it (or really evs for that matter), a lot of roads are seasonal, and a lot of people here are die hard anti-ev so it probably wouldn't go over.

[@ninetres187]

Yesss!! The on/off binary throttle is the WORST part of Ubers. It’s over 50% of rides in my experience.

[@JayPeezySLC]

The efficiency that DTS desires would scare an out-of-towner. An accomplished, efficiency-driven (aggressive, by any other name) driver very familiar with the map can shave tenths that a tourist simply wouldn't care about. 6 mins in an hour ride for someone who doesnt meet "California driving standards" will bias towards comfort. Actually, it's kind of funny that DTS is so jaded to the tech...for all his 97 years, he wants iRobot and JC and I are just amazed we got the Jetsons!😂

[@jimiverson3085]

Put on your seat belts, guys. Between San Francisco traffic and computer glitches, surprise panic stops seem likely.

[@nikoprather]

I love how unreasonably mad DTS is at minor errors lmao

[@dougrobinson8602]

I'd bet that he'd be exactly the same way if he were in an Uber.

[@brembopollypor9965]

Hey both, they are called roundabouts over here in Europe (in English language only of course), and Derek is 100% correct, you're supposed to signal both on the way in and the way out. Which makes perfect sense, as many have multiple lanes going in and going out as well , per 'arm' (or is it leg haha?)

[@istvanlorinczi2817]

Depends on country. Not the case in Hungary, but most cars with Slovakia and Romania plates I see signal both ways (or at least to the left, not when leaving the roundabout, which is really dumb)

[@TheCarmudgeonShow]

As the previous commenter said, it depends on country.

[@avongil]

Compassion for the tent city but none for displaced Uber drivers.

[@airbagsagain]

The Waymo never seemed/wanted to sit in peoples blind spots which is neat. Might explain why it was acting weird when y'all wanted Jynah to pass and brake check you.

[@koruki]

Waymos computers with a room full of people lol

[@geoobieandmachieofgrandhav2596]

This thing drives better than 99% of the Michigan drivers, and didn't drive around with a cell phone in one hand while on speakerphone!!!

[@txdevops]

It is only a matter of time before self driving cars start to drive fairly aggressive comparing to the average human driver. Aggressiveness button is a must! :)

[@tomaktoma1]

uses the left la when possible because there are less accidents on the left lane, or that's what my driver teacher told me

[@sayyeddavis8199]

I love it.

[@bradluecke9829]

I'm surprised by this, I wonder what the jump is for more general automated driving is and whether that jump is possible.

[@Zanpaa]

General? Very large. On specific, mapped-out areas? Probably pretty small. The largest hurdle now will be if car companies are willing to take the responsibility for the car's driving.

[@EbrahimParuk-z2y]

Why haven’t they removed the front seat headrests ??

[@pennytrui1149]

Because it's still in it's testing phase also sometimes when doing testing riders or employees sit in the car to monitor it. They are now testing on highways

[@jackal6083]

UK roundabout procedure is as Derek said

[@gnoxycat]

Can we ask for emergency mode and have it do 100mph in a school zone, because it knows, it knows its capable.

[@FeLiX13sLaVe]

The results of the break-check scenario were unsurprising to me. This is, I assume, one of the easiest problems for this system to solve. The reaction time should be lightning fast compared to a human. And as DTS says, the car is able to select a linear rate of deceleration. This contrasts with a human who has 1) delayed response and 2) decreased processing power for measuring the speed of their own vehicle vs the speed of the vehicle in front of them.