Dohne Damons
Would you catch a taxi ride if you knew that you would be driven by a vehicle with no driver?
You have no control over the situation, other than choosing your destination and what music you are listening to.
This is a reality for a few Americans who have already experienced the autonomous ride-hailing service of WAYMO.
A woman who is only known as @msbrittanyj on Instagram shared her experience and nothing out of the ordinary happened.
Would it work in South Africa?
The introduction of self-driving taxis could have a significant impact on transportation in South Africa.
Job displacement by taxi owners and operators would be cause for concern because these services are a vital source of income for certain households and a common means of affordable transportation.
For other drivers on the road it could mean less altercations with taxi drivers who do not obey the laws of the road.
By removing the human element, the risk of reckless driving and conflict like the Ford Ranger driver who teaches a JHB taxi driver a lesson might be reduced.
However, the widespread adoption of self-driving taxis in South Africa may still take some time. Implementation of the services include technological advancements, changes in legislation, infrastructure, and public acceptance.
Timeline to WAYMO One

Ten years of research created the self-driving car by WAYMO which is an independent self-driving company of Alphabet, a parent company of Google Company.
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