Why I Ride with Waymo: The Anthony Family

Editor’s Note: Meet the Anthonys, a family of three who appreciate the time back they get using Waymo One. They love being able to relax, catch up, and on some rides, sing along to their favorite music together!

How has your opinion on self-driving technology evolved from your first ride to now?

We approached our first ride with a mixture of excitement and trepidation because we really didn’t know what to expect. We were amazed by how ‘normal’ it felt. Once you get used to the idea that no one’s driving, it’s easy to relax and feels like you’re in safe hands. We often find ourselves lost in conversation, oblivious to the fact that a robot is driving the car. The biggest surprise is how quickly riding with Waymo has gone from being a novelty to being a staple.

Why do you like riding with Waymo?

Waymo offers all the advantages of a traditional ride-hailing service (technology, convenience, value, dependability), but we like knowing what type of vehicle we’re going to get every time; that it’s going to be clean and well maintained; and that the driving style will be consistent and safe. The Waymo Driver seems more self-assured than most human drivers, especially with things like lane-changing and merging. It drives the way a human might if they had 10 cameras constantly checking every blind-spot.

Any last words about your experience with Waymo One?

It’s been exciting for our whole family to be a part of the future! We always joke that one day Gabby will tell her grandchildren how back in the old days, every car had to have a driver operate every function. She will be able to share with them how she was one of the first people in the world to ride in a driverless car.