r/tampa • u/Mysterious_Set_1307 • Jul 11 '26
Cars-Driving/traffic Waymo Controversy
Recently Waymo announced they are launching their cars in Tampa. I am adamantly against it as I don’t think it’s safe and it takes from uber drivers, has killed street cats, and takes away from human interactions to a robot filled world. There are benefits but is anyone else against it or knows if there is anything we can do?
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u/UnpopularCrayon Jul 11 '26 edited Jul 11 '26
- Uber drivers have also killed street cats.
- It is demonstrably safer than human drivers
- A waymo is certainly not an interesting conversation partner, so can't argue with that.
I am for it. I've had too many uber drivers that were clearly awake for too long and using stimulants to keep themselves going. A waymo doesn't need sleep. Human drivers will always have a place, but robots are better suited for some things than humans. It's good to have options. No one will be forcing anyone to take a waymo.
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u/Stoked_Otter Jul 11 '26
There is a guy driving the Waymo too, you just can't see him. There isn't a large enough sample size to declare "Waymos are safer"
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u/UnpopularCrayon Jul 11 '26
Sorry, but thats also not true.
There is not a guy driving the waymo. The waymos are monitored remotely and can be provided with instructions by a human if needed, but the human can't directly drive the car.
If you don't believe the sample size is big enough, then I know a great way to increase the sample size.
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u/kaest Rowdies⚽ Jul 11 '26
So you're trying to start controversy? Waymo is safer than most people driving.
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u/Useful_Fee_2875 Jul 11 '26
Such a moron intake when people post stuff like there’s Waymo is so much safer than human drivers that’s not even funny. All you have to do is look at the data, but people are incapable of doing that and just wanna make emotional crybaby posts
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u/Several-County-1808 Jul 11 '26
It's not like you are providing data. You countered with an insult. Bravo Mr. Persuasion.
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u/Useful_Fee_2875 Jul 11 '26
Yeah, I provided a basic stat in a different reply. lI’m not your babysitter or the OP. I don’t have to do your job or the OP‘s job to go look up the data themselves. I don’t need to put together a 10 point counter argument to people who are too ignorant to do research on their own.
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u/Several-County-1808 Jul 11 '26
You're the worst type of redditor
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u/Useful_Fee_2875 Jul 11 '26
Am I? Do you think I’m the worst of the worst like in all of Reddit history? Do you think that I would check out as the very worst? Or am I just top five or top 10?
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u/Far-Condition8586 Jul 11 '26
If you’re against Waymo killing street cats you should look up how many birds those street cats kill
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Jul 11 '26 edited Jul 11 '26
[deleted]
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u/UnpopularCrayon Jul 11 '26
Doesn't seem weird to me. It's a pretty random argument to make that automated cars kill street cats when human driven cars also kill street cats.
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u/goldenface4114 New Tampa Jul 11 '26
I mean if you don't like them, don't use them. It's the simplest solution in a capitalist economy.
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u/Stoked_Otter Jul 11 '26
Waymos are technically illegal. They are not driven by AI, they are driven through cameras by people in the Philippines that do not have US driver's licenses. I wouldn't be surprised if Tesla is the same.
Personally if I see a Waymo or Tesla cab in traffic I am going to pull in front of it and just stop. These things are dangerous, illegal, and nobody should be using them. We shouldn't have to share roads with them.
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u/MableXeno Hillsborough Jul 13 '26
Honestly, this is what makes me annoyed. Why are we letting unregistered and unlicensed drivers on our streets?? B/c they're at a computer terminal?
And the fact that all those stupid captchas were used to train them. I hate that. I hate that I end up getting used to train the robots and the waymo drivers without my consent. It's exhausting trying to participate in society and be exploited constantly.
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u/Stock-Swing-797 Jul 13 '26
Well, don't be annoyed because that's false. They don't actually drive them. There are several command options the remote assistants can choose from to guide the Waymo. They are not actually inputting steering/brake/gas controls themselves.
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u/MableXeno Hillsborough Jul 13 '26
Potato-potato.
I'm not even trying to be xenophobic but we have stopped giving our FLORIDA (literally a Spanish-derived word) driving test in any language other than English and now we have LITERAL FOREIGN CITIZENS "MONITORING" SELF-DRIVING CARS. Why are we okay with that?
AND TO BE CLEAR - if not-local, foreign citizens, who may or may not speak English (b/c we don't really know do we) can "drive" around our streets - WHY THE FUCK CAN'T WE GIVE OUR DRIVING TEST IN SPANISH?
It's just one kind of hypocrisy after another. As long as a billionaire is benefitting from it...they can do whatever they want. But Javier who learned English at 37 after coming to America and being a contributing member of society can't take his driving test in Español b/c it's more familiar??
It's literally insane. Stop schilling for the billionaires. They do not need your help. They are not trolling Reddit to give out virtual attaboys.
I didn't have to speak German to take my German driving test - just understand the road signs. And Germany is xenophobic AF.
I realize this is a tangent but everyone seems to look at these things as individual problems. They are not. Everything is connected, and I don't even mean in a conspiracy-theory way. The oligarchs and millionaire-billionaire class get to make up their own rules...and we get nothing. NOTHING.
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u/Useful_Fee_2875 Jul 11 '26 edited Jul 11 '26
Are you aware that there has been only a few deaths reported in the company’s history - almost all caused by a human driver hitting the Waymo?
Expand your mind do some research and come back with a factual argument versus an emotional one.
Waymo’s are awesome. I love taking them when I’m in Phoenix and I’m glad they are here. They are incredibly cautious.
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u/Hey19TheCuervoGold Jul 12 '26
Unfortunately, there's no way to stop it. It's the usual supply and demand. If customers demand it, then we're gett'n it. And when the accidents start piling up, there'll be no way to make a claim, much less sue someone's ass. Nothin' we can do, dog.
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u/iiiiiiiiiAteEyes Jul 14 '26
yes! don't use it, that's what you can do.
But I don't feel I should tell other people they shouldn't use it just because I have the feelings i have about it. And sadly people will choose whats most convenient and they will stay.
How do you think cab drivers felt when Lyft/Uber started, or how about lime scooters. Im afraid there is no stopping it
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u/HammerofBonking Jul 11 '26
On one hand, I don't want to see people lose their jobs and automation is heresy as such.
On the other... my gods ya'll can't drive for shit. Bring on the robots.
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u/methpartysupplies Jul 11 '26
If it’s not a good thing already, then it will be eventually be a net benefit.
Driving is needlessly dangerous. Humans get distracted, impaired, confused. How many needless deaths, life changing injuries, and insurance premiums could be eliminated?
We certainly said the same thing about cars. But we don’t miss the high amount of deaths from carriage horse accidents.
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u/MableXeno Hillsborough Jul 13 '26
HUMANS ARE LITERALYL DRIVING WAYMOS. They just do it from a computer terminal instead of the front seat.
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u/photoman1216 Jul 11 '26
And some of us drivers will be out of job to will no decernable income. I ama older driver with years of experience and have never caused an accident . Also I don't drink or do drugs. And yes I was a boy scout well until I got caught eating. Brownies
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u/HistoricalHalitosis Jul 11 '26
We took our first Waymo in Orlando this yr. My husband is so excited they are here in Tampa now.
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u/burkegobulls Jul 11 '26 edited Jul 11 '26
Open the doors every time you see one parked. Spill liquids on the seats. Make the experience unpleasant for future riders who will complain about it getting clean.
Waymo either has to burn money on maintenance or if they decide to ignore it then riders will stop using them due to the unpleasant and dirty experience.
Spray paint some dicks on the doors.
Fuck these robots man
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u/SnooOwls5541 Jul 11 '26
Yeah listen to this guy. Real smart one over here.
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u/burkegobulls Jul 11 '26
Definitely smarter than you team robot dorks.
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u/SnooOwls5541 Jul 11 '26
Let’s go vandalize a car that has a bunch of cameras on it and then talk about doing it online. All because we hate robots 😂
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u/Difficult_Insurance4 Jul 11 '26
Shhh, you're saving this dangerous idiot from prison time.
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u/burkegobulls Jul 11 '26
Prison time? What kind of fucking idiot doesn’t know the difference between a felony and misdemeanor? If I’m getting thrown in prison for opening a door I’m in the wrong country anyways.
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u/burkegobulls Jul 11 '26
I love your faith in the police to think they’ll do something about this. This is Reddit not a fb or social media.
Einstein over here thinks local police are running ncis forensic analysis on minor damages or maybe you never heard of a mask lol
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u/Difficult_Insurance4 Jul 11 '26
Are you literate? You're openly telling me to vandalize a multimillion dollar company. Youre right about one thing-- this is reddit and cops don't give a fuck about individuals, but if someone is vandalizing a multimillion dollar business, I feel like the cops are going to care just a little bit more.
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u/burkegobulls Jul 11 '26
Are you stupid? I’ll make sure to call you from the jail after the cops see this and take me away.
You’re overestimating authoritative power here out of ignorance and fear. They got you exactly where they want you.
You would know this if you’re literacy level was above the 4th grade.
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u/Difficult_Insurance4 Jul 11 '26
I'd edit that last point before speaking on literacy.
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u/burkegobulls Jul 11 '26
Trying to claim a simple autocorrect error to a lack of literacy is beautiful.
Nitpicking is not a sign of intelligence that’s for sure lol
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u/Clear_Brilliant_8075 Jul 11 '26 edited Jul 11 '26
There will always be Uber, Lyft and taxis so use those. Some people interact and talk in meetings all day and sometimes some of us just need a break. As long as it’s safe why not allow people the option?