We Imagine a Future Where Chicagoans Get Around in Driverless Cars for Free

The inside smelled of piney air freshener. He quickly looked around. It was clean, the seats next to him were gray and plush. The driver and passenger seats and the steering wheel were still there. It was an ordinary SUV turned into a self-driving car. A kind of evolution. It is interesting. Her mother knocked on the window and was shocked when Zelu opened it in response. He and his mother looked at each other for a moment, then both laughed. “Wow,” her mother said in surprise. “I know,” Zelu agreed.

“Are you going to be okay?”

“I’m just going to the lake,” said Zelu. “I’ll be fine.”

“Call me if you need me. I can come and get you.”

“Please prepare for your trip,” an automated voice announced. Her mother jumped back as if the SUV was going to run her over.

“Relax, Mom,” Zelu said. “Its sensors know you’re there. It won’t move until you are at a safe distance.”

“I’ll believe it when I see it,” said his mother.

“You almost did.”

His mother waved as the car slowly pulled away. Zelu rocked back.

And then he was alone and his life was in the hands of the SUV.

“It’s so weird,” he said as he watched the steering wheel move by itself. It was the first time he was riding in a moving car alone. No one was there, but he couldn’t feel a presence; something was in control. It was like being driven by a ghost. “Or should I say No Body,” he said, laughing to himself.

His joy vanished when the car stopped to turn onto the main road.

He believed in the science behind self-driving vehicles. The technology had already been around for years and he had been researching this new taxi service for the past few months. Being able to order a phone with your phone like Uber and have someone look at you weird, ask awkward questions, be a serial killer, etc. the idea of ​​not meeting a person was a very good idea. Most importantly, it would free him from his family. When he invited one of them for a ride, they responded with this strange mixture of pity, control, and duty. He didn’t even think they knew they were doing it. Even if it was one of her younger sisters who controlled her, it always made her feel pathetic and childish. Oh, to be free from this feeling.

Nevertheless, at this moment, he wanted to scream in panic. He dug his nails into the arms of his chair. Despite all the research and reassurance from the customer service people he spoke to, it was very different now that it was happening in real time. What to do if there is a malfunction and the calculation is incorrect? What if another driver did crazy things that the SUV couldn’t understand or adapt to? What if there was a solar flare and the whole car died?

“Damn it!” he yelled as the SUV turned around. “I’m going to die!”

Then they were on their way. Zelu screamed and laughed with relief, still sweating bullets. The car went full speed, which meant everyone passed him. A few people did a double take, a few snapped and two held up their phones to record video. Zelu was too stressed to give it much thought. They were approaching the highway.