Alone in the Backseat: My First Ride in a Driverless Taxi

I’ve seen the videos. I’ve read the hype. But nothing quite prepared me for the feeling of sitting in the back seat of a Waymo driverless taxi in Phoenix completely alone on my way to the airport for a flight to Las Vegas and a cybersecurity conference.

It pulled up quietly to the curb like it had been expecting me. My phone unlocked the door, and up on the roof display, my initials glowed as if it were greeting me personally. The moment I stepped inside, a pleasant voice welcomed me.

Before anything else happened, it waited patiently for me to fasten my seatbelt. Only then did it ease into traffic with the calm precision of a chauffeur who had nothing to prove. No sudden brakes. No muttered curses at other drivers. Just smooth turns and steady merging.

That didn’t stop people outside from staring. As we rolled past, I caught pedestrians and drivers doing double takes, eyes darting from me in the back seat to the completely empty front seat. A few even slowed down, clearly trying to figure out who or what was driving.

And when we pulled up to the airport? No awkward wait for a receipt. No tipping prompt on a glowing screen. Just a polite “You’ve arrived” and the soft click of the locks.

Society Hits the Accelerator

Yes, it was a cool personal moment but the bigger story is what this technology means for all of us.

1. Mobility for All
   Driverless taxis could be a game-changer for older adults, people with disabilities, and anyone without a license. A few taps on an app could unlock independence no friend or family member required.
2. A Safer Road Ahead?
   Human error causes most crashes. Waymo’s 360-degree sensors and instant AI reactions could save lives though the technology isn’t flawless. Questions about reliability, regulation, and public trust still loom large.
3. Disruption in the Driver’s Seat
   From cabbies to delivery drivers, entire industries may be reshaped. Labor leaders are already pushing for safeguards to protect jobs as automation gains ground.
4. Ethics and Oversight Matter
   When a split-second choice must be made, how does a machine decide? These aren’t hypothetical questions anymore; policymakers, engineers, and ethicists are racing to create standards.

Final Thoughts

That quiet, unassuming ride to the airport was not only a commute but it was also a preview. A future where calling a driverless car is as ordinary as ordering a pizza. Where I can use my time during my drive to the airport to worry more about more than whether my driver will make a risky lane change.

Would I do it again? Without hesitation. And next time, I might even wave at the people staring  just to let them know, yep, there’s no one up front.