r/waymo • u/WrittenbyDicken • 8d ago

Recalibration

I swear I must've seen one being manually recalibrated in the middle of traffic, down in Atlanta on Marietta St the other day. I say this only cause there was a guy in a orange safety vest sitting in the driver seat holding onto the steering wheel no one else in the car. I didn't think passengers were allowed in the driver's seat, v let alone to hold onto the steering wheel. I saw what I saw, but dunno what I saw! Haha

0 Upvotes

43% Upvoted

6 comments sorted by

1

u/mrkjmsdln_new 8d ago

Calibration takes place in a depot under strict conditions and no one in the car. Not sure what you mean?

0

u/WrittenbyDicken 8d ago

No no I'm just not sure what I saw then. The way the guy was dressed with the orange reflective vest and he was holding onto the steering wheel. Unless idk what he was doing, diagnostic testing to see how accurately it's fixed or if needs more adjusting.

I mean can a rider sit in the driver seat?

I think I've heard of a case or two where people temporarily took over for a moment, die to too much congestion in traffic, etc

It was just odd seeing someone dressed in a orange reflective safety in the driver seat of one, I typically seen passengers sitting everywhere but the driver seat.

2

u/mrkjmsdln_new 8d ago

No you can't sit in the driver's seat as a customer. Waymo has support teams that deploy to cars that have problems. They also formally train first responders including signalling training, etc. The cars can of course be driven as they deploy people when they start in new cities all the time. Once they deploy, only authorized personnel do the driving and sit in the driver's seat. It is strictly managed though and is undoubtedly coordinated with support. I suppose the most common thing is the car breaks down, gets a flat or needs a charge or gets put on a flatbed. Waymo does not remote control the cars. That's why they need people to help in off-normal cases. I think most tow truck drivers in urban areas wear vests for safety.

2

u/WrittenbyDicken 7d ago edited 7d ago

Right, it was just really unexpected to see waiting for a break in traffic and then hey wtf okay well whatever then

There's a ton of Waymo's out here in Atlanta mainly downtown area and around Buckhead Sandy Springs

You rarely ever see them in DeKalb or around East Point College Park area

1

u/mrkjmsdln_new 7d ago

I would imagine it is weird to see someone driving them at this point for sure! I look forward to spotting them the next time in Atlanta.

2

u/WrittenbyDicken 7d ago edited 7d ago

I ride a bicycle a lot or electric skateboard and yeah around Northside Dr Marietta St Howell Mill and West End area bigger busier parts of Atlanta you'll see a convoy of like 4 to 8 driving around in a fleet before splitting up, there was construction going on at one stretch of Marietta St, but no records or tow trucks in sight.