‘I don’t feel safe’, travelers explode after self-driving buses arrive at popular airport – they want ‘human judgement’

AIRPORT customers have mixed feelings about an autonomous shuttle service at one of the country’s busiest airports.

The aim of the service is to reduce travelers’ waiting time and improve traffic flow.

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New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport is collaborating with the Port Authority, an autonomous vehicle company, to test driverless shuttles.

The airport is the sixth busiest airport in the country and the busiest of all New York airports, Travel & Leisure reported.

Two buses are collecting data for the company and each can accommodate nine passengers and their luggage.

The testing period will be from Monday to Friday, from 8 am to noon.

During the testing period, the buses are limited to a maximum speed of 15 km/h and are equipped with “Light-AR” technology that can determine paths and prepare to slow down or stop when something is close to the AV.

Lion Tsang, the company’s lead transit planner in New York and New Jersey, said the technology allows for a complete picture.

“We have three of them on each end, so we make sure we see 360,” he said. CBS News.

Seth Wainer, director of the Port Authority’s Innovation Program, has high hopes for the pilot program.

“We want this to be very exciting for your first ride and very boring for your second ride,” he said.

Responding to concerns about job losses, the company said drivers will remain on the buses as a safety measure and can take control at any time.

After the test, if successful, drivers can control the AV remotely if necessary.

“This puts us in a position to provide more services with the same team,” Wainer said.

Lionell Russell was a shuttle driver for the airport and doesn’t think drivers should worry.

“It’s the same thing,” Russell said.

“It’s not a subtraction. It’s actually an addition.”

Some travelers, however, told reporters they had mixed feelings about the autonomous vehicles taking them around the airport without a driver.

“I think we’re kind of seeing the future now,” Somers resident Olivia Soto said.

“I don’t know if I would feel comfortable with that.”

Another traveler said he simply doesn’t trust the AV’s inhumanity.

“I prefer human judgment,” she said.

Emanuel Yacab, a commuter from Poughkeepsie, is familiar with AVs after using Waymo to get around.

Although it takes some getting used to, the technology has proven to be safe.

“Sometimes it’s a little scary at first when you’re not used to it, but I’ve come to trust the technology,” Yacab said.