How does Waymo compare to human drivers when it comes to driving style? I've seen some complaints that it is annoyingly slow and indecisive sometimes, e.g. taking forever to make a left turn. Is this something Waymo also analyzes? Any hard data on that?
I don't think there is hard data. From two rides experience in Arizona it feels eerily similar to a human driver minus it adhering the speed limit.
And minus the times when it gets stuck and needs to be rescued by human driver either remotely or an actual Waymo guy coming over and getting in the car. Doesn't happen every time of course but it does happen.
Remote humans can't drive Waymo's vehicles. They can reach into the car's model of the world to correct something it misunderstood (e.g. car is confused by misplaced cone and thinks the entire carriageway is closed, actually only the left lane is closed) but they can't control the vehicle remotely at all. It's extraordinary to me how many HN readers seem to think that somehow remotely driving cars would be a good idea, but then I remember how many incredibly dumb start-up ideas get funded and it's less surprising.
Yes, that's why I worded it as rescue and not "drive";) When the car is stuck because of an issue the software can't resolve it needs human input.