I recently traveled out to Los Angeles for a very special milestone: visiting my son and daughter-in-law to see my very first grandchild—a beautiful baby girl born this past October 2025.
Holding her is such a joy, but as I looked at her, I couldn’t help but think about the world she is entering. It turns out, I was about to get a firsthand look at her future much sooner than I expected.
Driverless Car Ride
As a member of the 65+ generation who grew up in a small town with just one red light, you might think I’d be hesitant about new technology. However, after living in the Metro Atlanta area for the past 40 years, I’m well-acquainted with heavy traffic and using the latest apps to get around.
Still, I usually stick to Uber. But my son, seeing the white Waymo vehicles humming through his Los Angeles neighborhood, nudged me. “Mom, they’re all over the place now. You really should try one.” I thought about it and decided I should really do this—I wanted to show my son and myself that I could still embrace the “next big thing.”
The “Is This For Me?” Moment
I followed the app’s walking directions to a “safe” pickup spot. Waymo is a bit different than Uber; it looks for the safest place to stop rather than just pulling up to a front door.
I’ll admit, I had a bit of a “newbie” moment when a sleek white Jaguar pulled into the space. Another person was standing there, and I actually asked him, “Is this car for you?”
“No,” he laughed.
I looked at my phone and tapped Unlock. Immediately, the flush door handle shot straight out toward me, inviting me inside. I climbed in, and a calm, welcoming voice greeted me by name.
I was relieved that this was the car I ordered…see my name on the screen!
The car’s audio system walked me through the safety instructions, and then, with a silent confidence, the steering wheel began to turn on its own. It was startling for about a minute—and then it was just impressive.
The Verdict: Uber vs. Waymo
To see if it was worth the hype, I did a little experiment. I took an Uber to my destination and a Waymo on the way back.
- The Price: The Uber was $15.00. The Waymo was only $9.00.
- The Quality:Â The car was pristine. I had total control over the music and the temperature from the back seat.
- The Peace of Mind: No small talk, no distracted drivers—just a smooth, silent ride.
Is it Actually Safe?
Since I like to know the facts, I did a little digging. Peer-reviewed data through early 2026 shows that Waymo vehicles have 80% to 90% fewer accidents resulting in injuries compared to human drivers.
Even better, they have a 96% reduction in injury-causing crashes at intersections. Knowing that the “Waymo Driver” has 360-degree vision and never gets tired or distracted is a huge plus for those of us who value a thoughtful decision.
Reflections for a New Generation
As the car navigated the busy LA streets, my mind drifted back to my new granddaughter. Researchers are calling her generation “Generation Beta.” By the time she is sixteen, will she look at my stories of “human drivers” the same way I look at my grandmother’s stories of horse-drawn carriages? I guess time will tell.
The world is changing fast, but as I watched that steering wheel guide us perfectly through traffic, I realized I’m glad I took the leap to see it for myself.
Want to try a “driverless” ride?
You can find Waymo in these cities today:
- Current: Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Austin, and Atlanta
- How to Ride: In Atlanta and Austin, you can find Waymo specifically through the Uber app—look for the “Autonomous” option in your ride preferences!
- Coming Soon in 2026:Â Keep an eye out for service coming to Miami, Dallas, Houston, and Washington D.C.