Google’s (GOOG) self-driving car could spell trouble for those in the taxi business.
Google has taken the next step in changing how the taxi business works by releasing a fleet of 100 self-driving cars that don’t have a steering wheel, brake or accelerator. These cares do have an emergency stop button, just in case things get dicey on the road, reports New York Post.
Google’s new self-driving cars are two seaters that use computers and lasers to navigate the vehicle. Those looking for a ride in one of these cars can use a mobile app to request being picked up. The cars are lightweight and are currently limited to a top speed of 25 mph, New York Post notes.
If the self-driving cars were to take over New York’s roads, they could bring many benefits with them. It’s estimated that a fleet of 9,000 cars without drivers could reduce wait times for a taxi from five minutes to less than one. Another thing that would decrease would be fare. The fleet of cars could reduce fare prices from $4 a mile to around 50 cents a mile, reports The New York Times.
