Here Comes the Self-Driving Traffic Surge
Autonomous vehicles from companies like Waymo and Zoox are set to trigger an increase in car usage that clogs urban streets. Cities should prepare now.
Zoox autonomous robotaxis in San Francisco in 2024.
Photographer: David Paul Morris/BloombergClose your eyes and imagine a future featuring ubiquitous autonomous vehicles. What do you see?
Perhaps you envision gleeful commuters freed from the daily tedium of driving themselves to and from work. Maybe you think about passengers dozing, watching videos or taking calls as their robot cars whisk them to their destinations. You might picture quieter, cleaner cities; since AVs are typically electric, they emit a gentle hum rather than the roar and pollution of gas-engine vehicles. If you drive a cab or ride-hailing car for a living, you could be eyeing a potential job killer.