Self-driving cars mean I will finally be able to go out with my wife

For me, self-driving cars are not scary; it’s the idea that I may be too old to enjoy date night before they come along that is scariest of all. GettyImages/kieferpix

I remember when I was the youngest person in any meeting. Now, people call me “experienced” or still worse: “seasoned.” At least I haven’t achieved “vintage” status — but then again, my teenaged children may beg to differ.
So, imagine my surprise when someone recently referred to me as a “futurist.” This was regarding my belief in the potential for self-driving cars to revolutionize the transportation ecosystem while leveling the field for those of us who have, until now, never enjoyed a level playing field — or should I say roadway.

Last year, I attended a workshop on Valley Metro’s partnership with Waymo, Google’s self-driving car company. In 2018, Valley Metro and Waymo began a pilot to measure the effectiveness of self-driving cars as a potential solution for connecting people with transit. The pilot project began with a small group of employees who took trips between their homes, transit centers, park and ride lots, and other locations within Waymo’s area of operation in portions of several adjacent communities east of Phoenix. This was quickly broadened to seniors and people with disabilities using the agency’s RideChoice program. Valley Metro’s goal was to determine the extent to which self-driving cars would be able to meet the transportation needs of participating riders and to identify other potential transit use cases for self-driving cars.

At the end of the presentation, numerous audience members engaged with the panel in a spirited discussion about the perceived readiness and fears some have about this technology. For some, the technology is scary, and argue that Waymo and presumably other manufacturers need to slow down to allow time to adjust to this new reality. For me, I have a different “view.”

As a blind guy who does not drive, and who has never driven, self-driving cars will be a dream come true on so many levels. First, I am a pedestrian, and at risk of being hit by any vehicle that operates on the streets I cross and within the parking lots I traverse. In fact, I have already been hit by cars on three separate occasions. Fortunately, none have been serious, so all I’ve ever suffered are bumps, bruises, a broken cane or two, and many moments of a racing heart and ringing in my ears. Unfortunately, this is not true for many other people who have been hit, injured and killed by automobiles. Self-driving cars are not perfect, but according to National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration statistics, errors made by human drivers and pedestrians contribute, at least in part, to 94% of all accidents, so I like the improving odds that come with automation.

In 2018, Valley Metro and Waymo began a pilot to measure the effectiveness of self-driving cars as a potential solution for connecting people with transit. Waymo

Second, if I need to run an errand that requires anything more than a walk or a ride on transit, I am dependent on someone else — paratransit, a taxicab, a rideshare vehicle, or even my daughter who just got her license. That means I have to factor in their availability, their time, and of course in most cases, cost.

Third and most importantly for me, there’s date night. For my wife and me, date night is a critical strategy for staying together and for not strangling our teenage kids. However, neither of us have driven in our 25 years of dating and marriage. Self-driving cars mean that I will finally be able to go out with my wife — just the two of us — like all other couples are able to do any time they like, or should I say, any time they are able to sneak away from their day-to-day realities of life. For me, self-driving cars are not scary; it’s the idea that I may be too old to enjoy date night before they come along that is scariest of all.

But what about accessibility? Self-driving cars won’t make my life, or my wife’s life, or any person with a disability’s life better if they are not accessible. Well, as it turns out, I’m not just a futurist; I’m an optimist as well. Here’s why …

Self-driving cars are being developed at a time when the law requires accessibility, at a time when the disability community is organized and paying attention, and at a time when Madison Avenue is beginning to recognize the buying power of 54 million Americans with disabilities — to say nothing of the collective buying power of all people with disabilities worldwide. Simply put, the law, politics and capitalism all suggest that accessibility will be a critical success factor for any company in the autonomous vehicle space

And so far, the evidence is on my side. Uber, Waymo, Ford, Local Motors and other manufacturers are building relationships with federal regulators, disability policy and advocacy groups and others to obtain feedback about what accessibility looks like and how to best support this. Additionally, a number of industry and disability community organizations have published policy positions calling on autonomous vehicles to be accessible. And in January, the U.S. Department of Transportation issued a number of Requests for Information pertaining to the establishment of a regulatory environment for autonomous vehicles, including a Request for Information in advance of a planned design challenge focused on the identification and mitigation of barriers to the accessibility of self-driving cars for people with disabilities. In short, everyone — manufacturers, operators, the community and regulators are all committed to the idea of self-driving cars that are accessible.

At this point, we do not know when self-driving cars will hit the street for everyday use. It may be five years; it may be more. But whenever that is, you will find my wife and me riding in style, enjoying date night, and holding hands like no one’s looking—because no one will be.

Ron Brooks is VP of Transit Market Development for American Logistics, a national passenger transportation logistics company.