Waymo ready to go in the snow
Waymo, the self-driving taxi company, wants to get a better feel for how its vehicles perform in harsh weather. So, the California-based company is doing research in Buffalo.
You may have spotted its signature white Jaguars, equipped with Waymo’s sensor technology and logo, driving around town. The vehicles arrived early this month and will be here through the end of November.
During this test phase, the Waymo cars are being operated by a driver, just like a conventional car, said Sandy Karp, communications manager with Waymo. The vehicles will essentially map out the city and surrounding freeways, providing context for the vehicles to operate within later on.
Waymo plans to bring its vehicles back to Buffalo in January, when the snow is flying, to see how they perform under those conditions, Karp said. During that phase, the vehicles will operate autonomously, but with a person inside monitoring everything.
Still, you’ll have to wait before you can hitch an autonomous taxi ride with Waymo around here.
“We have no plans to share for a commercial service in Buffalo at this time,” Karp said.
Caught on camera
WKBW-TV reporter Kristen Mirand found herself in the right place at the right time earlier this month.
Mirand was out at the CSX railroad bridge over Young Street in the City of Tonawanda on Nov. 7. That’s where many, many, many trucks have struck the bridge because their drivers ignored warnings about its low height.
Retired Police Capt. Fred Foels diligently documented the crashes, which have reached 75 since 2000, according to Capt. Kevin Ulmer.
The bridge remains structurally sound but city officials have struggled to prevent the crashes, largely blamed on out-of-town drivers using GPS technology that doesn’t factor in the bridge’s height. A federally funded, $1.2 million program relying on infrared sensors hasn’t been installed.
Mirand was on Young Street to report on a State Police program…
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