Waymo Ride Experience in San Francisco
High-Level Driving Skills, Stable Ride, No Sudden Braking
Somewhat Frustrating Due to Inflexible, Model-Student Driving Style
Drives Faster at Night When Traffic Is Light
Fares Similar to Uber and Lyft... No Tipping Required
"The ride is comfortable and pleasant, but the driving style feels a bit cautious."
From February 2 to 6 (local time), I visited San Francisco, USA, on a business trip. In the heart of the city at Union Square, white Jaguar vehicles equipped with hat-shaped sensors on their roofs were frequently seen. These were Google's autonomous robo-taxis (driverless taxis) called 'Waymo.' Although no one sat in the driver's seat, Waymo vehicles carrying passengers in the front passenger and rear seats or running empty were so common that you could encounter three or four at a single point on the road. Following the recent conclusion of CES 2025, the world's largest electronics and IT exhibition, where next-generation driverless autonomous vehicles drew significant attention, I rode several times in Waymo vehicles operating commercially in San Francisco. At CES 2025, Waymo showcased a vehicle equipped with 6th-generation autonomous driving technology, featuring no steering wheel or driver's seat, but the driverless taxis currently operating in San Francisco use the slightly less advanced 5th-generation autonomous driving technology.
Google's autonomous robo-taxi (driverless taxi) 'Waymo' is driving through downtown San Francisco. San Francisco - Photo by Haeyoung Kwon
I downloaded the Google 'Waymo One' application (app) and called a taxi. The first route was about 13 km from a hotel located in Union Square to Ghirardelli Square. The app displayed the hotel pickup time and the estimated arrival time at the destination. At the pickup time indicated by the app, a white vehicle approached and stopped on the road in front of the hotel. Another Waymo vehicle soon arrived. For a moment, I hesitated, unsure which car to board, but the passenger's name was displayed on the hat-shaped sensor display installed on the vehicle roof, making it easy to identify the correct vehicle. This hat-shaped sensor is a 'LiDAR,' which recognizes objects around the vehicle using lasers.
Google autonomous self-driving robotaxi (driverless taxi) 'Waymo'. San Francisco - Photo by Haeyoung Kwon
The experience of riding in a Waymo was fascinating. Upon boarding and inspecting the interior, a warning sound prompted me to fasten the seatbelt. After buckling up and pressing the start button, the steering wheel began to move. The ride felt stable, as if a human were driving. Cornering was smooth, and the vehicle activated turn signals and steered whenever changing lanes. There were no sudden brakes during driving. Waymo's driving skills were far superior to mine, a novice driver for over ten years. Real-time driving information such as road conditions, driving route, and estimated arrival time was also provided via the display. The interior environment was comfortable and pleasant. The seats were spacious and clean. Passengers could also select music to listen to. Waymo changed its driving route according to road conditions and arrived at the destination in 14 minutes, one minute earlier than the estimated time.
Google autonomous self-driving robotaxi (driverless taxi) 'Waymo'. San Francisco - Photo by Haeyoung Kwon
The driving style was quite cautious. When Waymo detected surrounding vehicles, it maintained a greater-than-necessary distance and only moved after the other vehicle left. It drove slowly even in situations where it could have sped up. On the second ride, when arriving at the hotel destination, the parking space seemed narrow, so Waymo suddenly turned into an alley beside the hotel and stopped the car. A human driver would have parked on the road in front of the hotel, but due to Waymo's excessive 'safe driving,' I had to get off dozens of meters away. The lack of flexibility like a human driver felt somewhat frustrating. However, at night with less traffic, it transformed into a somewhat bolder driver. When I called Waymo around 10 p.m., it drove faster in downtown San Francisco than during the day. It felt like it adjusted speed according to traffic volume.
After riding Waymo, my overall evaluation is that it deserves a passing grade. The ride was stable, and there was no sense of danger. It was comfortable not having to engage in unnecessary conversations with a driver. The fare was similar to or slightly higher than existing ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft. Unlike Uber and Lyft, Waymo does not require tipping the driver, which might make it cheaper in some respects. However, fundamental safety concerns remain unresolved. Foreign media reported that in December last year, a Waymo user was trapped inside a vehicle. In July, Waymo was involved in controversy after being caught by police for driving the wrong way. Imagining a major accident caused by system errors or hacking, like in science fiction (SF) movies, was chilling.
Waymo, a subsidiary of Alphabet, Google's parent company, is regarded as the leader in autonomous driving technology. It currently operates robo-taxis commercially for the general public in San Francisco, Phoenix, and Los Angeles, with about 500 Waymo vehicles running in San Francisco alone. As autonomous driving technology rapidly advances, if safety controversies are resolved, I believe Waymo could replace many ride-sharing services. A Lyft driver I met in San Francisco, when asked if passenger numbers decreased after Waymo's introduction, said, "Not at all," adding, "Waymo's safety has not been confirmed, and we do not consider it a competitor." However, after riding Waymo, it seems the era of driverless taxis has already arrived.
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