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A cartoon drawing of a Waymo driverless taxi, titled 2026: A taxi odyssey. Speech bubbles read "Ball Arena, please," and the car replies "I can't do that, Dave"
(Peter Moore, Special to The Colorado Sun)

In 2017, our state legislature green-lighted driverless cars. Next year, Waymo plans to offer robo-rides to Coloradans.

Does that nine-year pause give you pause? 

Don’t give it another thought! Waymo has reassured us that the technology for these vehicles is fifth or sixth generation. Which is like your teenager telling you that, after his fifth or sixth wreck, he’s finally got the kinks worked out. 

Not to worry. Waymo is employing human driver’s ed teachers to fine-tune the robot drivers. It’ll work out great. 

A cartoon drawing of a frazzled drivers ed teacher in the passenger seat with a robot student behind the wheel. The robot is thinking "If he's such a good driver, why did they invent driverless cars?"
(Peter Moore, Special to The Colorado Sun)

Fortunately, Waymo will be calibrating their self-driving cars specifically for local conditions. 

A cartoon drawing of Denver's unique driving environment featuring four challenges: the Rockies' Dinger mascot as road kill, the confusing intersection of East Ohio and I-25; a sign signaling perpetual road closures; and a tarantula, just in case the driverless car gets lost and ends up in LaJunta.
(Peter Moore, Special to The Colorado Sun)

You should probably keep an eye on the road, in case the robo-driver doesn’t spot a potential hazard (a nun in the crosswalk, children playing in your front yard). 

A cartoon drawing of a frightened passenger, with "How to Yell STOP! in Computer Code" above his head. There is a sheet of computer language over the driver's side windshield
(Peter Moore, Special to The Colorado Sun)

Robots may experience road-rage, just like you do. Actually, it could be fun. 

A cartoon of a robot car experiencing road rage and yelling "Use your turn signal or die, carbon-based life form"
(Peter Moore, Special to The Colorado Sun)

If the Waymo experiment succeeds, perhaps other robo-car entrepreneurs will consider Colorado.

A cartoon of Elon Musk behind the wheel of a Tesla Taxi, with a thought bubble that says "Sure I'll give you a ride, but only where I want to go."
(Peter Moore, Special to The Colorado Sun)

Next year, you’ll be able to sit back and enjoy the robo-ride. Your robo-driver will, too. 

A cartoon drawing of a robo taxi on a mountain road, its passenger asleep in the back while it drives by an avvalanche, a big horn sheep, a moose, a wolf, a mountain lion and Big Foot.
(Peter Moore, Special to The Colorado Sun)

Type of Story: Opinion

Advocates for ideas and draws conclusions based on the author/producer’s interpretation of facts and data.

Peter Moore is an editor, writer, illustrator, ghostwriter, co-author, radio host, TV guest, speaker, editorial consultant, and journalism lecturer. In his most recent gig he was interim editor-in-chief of BACKPACKER magazine. Peter...