[root_axis]

"Tesla miles" are also a misleading metric because they don't factor in all the times the driver has to take back control over the vehicle to ensure safe operation, it's just the sum of arbitrary stretches of self driving that don't represent true autonomous operation.

[robertlagrant]

I agree it's not the same, but that's sort of my point. Tesla's gone for global usage, with automatic deactivation, whereas Waymo has done a very specific area of roads built in a similar style. It's broad vs deep, is what I mean.

[ra7]

> whereas Waymo has done a very specific area of roads built in a similar style

How are steep and hilly roads of San Francisco similar in style to flat, grid-like roads of Phoenix?

[robertlagrant]

Well, for example if you drive in Europe you'll see much narrower roads, way more pedestrians and crossings; all sorts of things.

[ra7]

Right, so what you really mean is urban vs highway driving. In self driving, urban driving is considered much more challenging precisely because of the characteristics you listed. That's why you see Waymo only now dipping into highway driving because the primary taxi market is all inside busy cities.

[robertlagrant]

> Right, so what you really mean is urban vs highway driving

No, I don't mean that.

[ra7]

Then I’m afraid you’re unclear because the cities Waymo operates in all have different characteristics and don’t have “similar style of roads”. Driving in SF is very different from driving in Phoenix.