I’ve been reporting on self-driving cars for over a decade, and I’ve seen the technology go through many ups and downs, highs and lows. But one thing has remained remarkably the same over the years: the public just ain’t buying it.
Poll after poll has revealed a deep and abiding skepticism toward autonomous vehicles. People don’t trust the technology, don’t want to ride in cars without human drivers – even when the evidence suggests the vehicle could be much safer than a human driver. Sure, robotaxis are operating in about a dozen cities now, and companies like Waymo don’t seem to have any problems finding customers. But when you expand th …