Why driverless taxis still need a human (for now)
About this episode
The episode discusses the current state of driverless taxis and the necessity of human safety drivers.
Most taxi drivers tell tales about who they’ve had in the back of their cab. But how would you feel about catching a cab that doesn’t have a driver in the front? Autonomous taxis can now be ordered on London’s streets – in a move many would liken to something out of a sci-fi movie. In reality, the cars currently arrive with a human “safety” driver - but the plan is that fairly soon they won’t. So, how safe are these vehicles? And what does the move mean for real-life cabbies who might be fearing for their jobs? Niall Paterson is joined by Sky’s technology correspondent Rowland Manthorpe, who had an eventful journey in an autonomous taxi in central London. Have you got a question for Niall? Email us: why@sky.uk
People in this episode
Host: Niall Paterson
Guest: Rowland Manthorpe
Topics covered
- driverless taxis
- autonomous vehicles
- safety
- technology
- employment
- transportation
Keywords
- driverless taxis
- autonomous vehicles
- safety driver
- London
- taxi drivers
- technology
- employment
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Sky News
Places: London
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