Friday, February 28, 2025, 2:09AM |  42°
MENU
Advertisement
A Ford Fusion outfitted with Uber’s self-driving technology was on display at Point State Park in Downtown Pittsburgh in August.
2
MORE

It's not easy turning over the wheel to an automated system

Darrell Sapp/Post-Gazette

It's not easy turning over the wheel to an automated system

The biggest problem being behind the wheel of a self-driving vehicle is resisting the urge to drive it yourself.

As part of its rollout of self-driving vehicles for its ride-sharing operation, Uber invited members of the media to take rides in its Ford Fusions souped up with lasers, cameras and computers. About halfway through the demonstration ride, the emergency driver pulled into a lot just off River Avenue on the North Side and the technician beside him asked if I wanted to sit in the driver’s seat. No hesitation here.

After I manually pulled out of the lot, we engaged the self-driving system. My job: hover my hands above the steering wheel and my foot above the brake or gas pedal so I could take over the vehicle’s operation by touching any of them if it became necessary.

Advertisement

But when you have been driving for more than 40 years like I have, it’s not as easy as it sounds. Put me behind the wheel and I want to drive. I don’t use cruise control. Many times I’m not even a good passenger.

Uber is launching its self-driving car service in Pittsburgh. Each ride will include two Uber employees -- a safety driver and a vehicle operator.
Ed Blazina
Uber rolls out self-driving vehicles to public

 

But left to its own devices, the Fusion handled itself flawlessly whether it was me or the Uber driver behind the wheel. The car followed a pre-programmed loop from the Strip District, past the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, across the Clemente Bridge and down River Avenue to the 31st Street Bridge.

The car automatically followed the speed limit, activated turn signals as it approached intersections and stopped at stop signs, red lights and behind stopped vehicles.

Advertisement

Several times, not trusting the system as much as I should have, my natural inclination caused me to touch the brakes as we approached other vehicles with brake lights on. When I controlled myself, the car regularly came to a smooth stop on its own.

While the Uber driver was in charge, he took over operation several times, particularly when there were maintenance trucks in the curb lane just after we turned onto the Clemente Bridge from Fort Duquesne Boulevard. The Fusion would have stopped, he assured us, but it was easier to manually steer around the trucks.

In the Strip District, again with the Uber driver, the Fusion nimbly switched lanes as it worked its way around delivery trucks on Penn Avenue. I’m sure I would have been compelled to intercede.

There was one near hiccup while I was in charge.

As the Fusion drove itself toward the 31st Street Bridge on River Avenue, a motorist parked along the side of the road opened his door into traffic. Rather than wait a millisecond to see whether the car would react, I immediately touched the brake, took control and swerved around the open door.

My takeover occurred seamlessly, with no hesitation by the system. The technician assured me I had done the right thing, although he was convinced the system would have handled if without my intervention.

But I couldn’t resist.   

Ed Blazina: eblazina@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1470.

First Published: September 14, 2016, 10:20 a.m.

RELATED
SHOW COMMENTS (0)  
Join the Conversation
Commenting policy | How to Report Abuse
If you would like your comment to be considered for a published letter to the editor, please send it to letters@post-gazette.com. Letters must be under 250 words and may be edited for length and clarity.
Partners
Advertisement
Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Bubba Chandler delivers in the third inning of a spring training baseball game against the Minnesota Twins in Fort Myers, Fla., Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025.
1
sports
3 takeaways from Pirates’ lopsided spring training victory over Twins
An example of a Real ID-compliant non-commercial driver's license in Pennsylvania.
2
news
The Real ID deadline is approaching. Here's what Pennsylvanians should know.
FILE - Demonstrators protest Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) layoffs in front of the CDC headquarters in Atlanta, Feb. 18, 2025.
3
news
Judge finds mass firings of federal probationary workers to likely be unlawful
Pittsburgh Steelers owner Art Rooney II, left, and general manager Omar Khan stand on the field before an NFL football game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the New York Giants, Monday, Oct. 28, 2024, in Pittsburgh.
4
sports
2025 NFL salary cap will rise to $279 million. Here's what that means for the Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers coach Arthur Smith walks off the field after losing to the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025, in Baltimore, Maryland. The Baltimore Ravens won 28-14.
5
sports
Joe Starkey: Was Steelers GM Omar Khan kidding with his Arthur Smith comments?
A Ford Fusion outfitted with Uber’s self-driving technology was on display at Point State Park in Downtown Pittsburgh in August.  (Darrell Sapp/Post-Gazette)
An Uber self-driving Ford Fusion sits at a red light on Beechwood Boulevard near Fifth Avenue in Point Breeze on Aug. 24.  (Darrell Sapp/Post-Gazette)
Darrell Sapp/Post-Gazette
Advertisement
LATEST news
Advertisement
TOP
Email a Story