Tesla’s robotaxi service in Austin witnessed a rather interesting and noteworthy experience. A short distance within the city took much longer than expected because the vehicle did not use highways.

A route that a passenger planned to complete in 10 minutes was extended to a full 70 minutes due to highway restrictions. This situation clearly reveals the current limitations and software choices of driverless vehicles in urban transportation.

Highway Restrictions and Route Problem

Because Tesla’s Cybercab model is not authorized to use highways in Austin, it determines its route entirely according to city roads. The vehicles are also specially programmed to avoid level railway crossings.

These restrictions cause the vehicle to completely change and lengthen the route it follows to reach its destination. The passenger said that the Cybercab was essentially driving him around the city and that it took a much longer route than usual.

The price paid for the trip was $20, in line with market standards. However, the fact that the system does not show the user the route or estimated time before the trip begins creates significant uncertainty.

Tesla’s robotaxi software is quite due cautious to the current driving area and safety approach. Currently, the vehicles can only operate on low-speed roads and in a very limited working area.

Competition and Software Approach

Rival Waymo can travel on highways with its fully driverless vehicles and provide faster transportation. It is clear that Tesla does not yet have a similar capacity or legal authorization in highway driving.

This 70-minute route problem does not seem to be unique to the Cybercab model. Tesla also uses a similar software approach and driving restrictions in its Model Y-based robotaxis.

This situation always increases the likelihood of Tesla robotaxis users encountering similar long and circuitous routes. The company’s safety priorities in autonomous driving technology directly affect user experience and time management.

Although Tesla’s autonomous driving software is constantly updated, the current restrictions in Austin still persist. Efficiency in urban transportation depends on the software’s strict stance regarding highway and rail crossings.

With the widespread adoption of self-driving car technology, how to solve these kinds of route optimization problems is a major question. Whether Tesla will allow highway driving in the future, or how it will update its software, remains uncertain.

How risky is it for self-driving cars to enter highways in terms of safety? What are your thoughts on this?