Cruise, backed by General Motors, is offering low-cost rides to a few customers in driverless cars in San Francisco. Of course, such rides have glitches, say some swerve and there is a jolt when the brakes are applied. However, the car navigates competently. It changes lanes on its own. The front is empty as there is no one in the driver’s seat and its adjacent seat. The services could be expanded to Austin. Texas and Phoenix by the end of 2022. It is a taxi service served by an app right now available on iPhone but not on Android-powered phone. They have a fleet of 30 cars, and operate on certain specific routes between 10 pm and 5.30am. The idea is that the traffic is minimal in these hours.

Though very rare, the cars get confused in certain situations. In such a case, the operators in a remote centre retrieve them by deploying technicians. Certain difficult situations are unprotected left-hand turn, jaywalking etc.

The driverless cars seem to take side streets rather than the main roads to steer clear of heavy traffic and unprotected left-hand turns.

A car may detect a potential collision, and car comes to a halt on the side. Such stalled cars are a problem.

Waymo of Google would like to start a second service in San Francisco. Argo AI of Ford and Volkswagen is at work in Austin and Miami. Hyundai’s Motional is interested to start service in Las Vegas.