Self-Driving Rideshare Company In Las Vegas Hits The Brakes

Author Sammi Reeves

May 14th 11:10 PM

It turns out self-driving cars are more difficult (and expensive) than once thought. Motional announced they are suspending their rideshare operations for Uber and Lyft effective immediately, laying off nearly 130 employees in Las Vegas.

Five years ago, the likes of Elon Musk were touting how far autonomously driving cars had become. Soon, you’d be able to send your car out to rideshare for you and earn you money. The reality hasn’t been quite as “auto” as experts have hoped. Now a major self-driving rideshare company in Las Vegas – Motional – is calling it quits… For now.

Motional announced they are suspending their rideshare operations for Uber and Lyft effective immediately, laying off nearly 130 employees in the region. The layoffs are part of a greater 40 percent bloodletting for the company, displacing around 550 employees worldwide.

The company, founded in March 2020, was formed as a venture between Hyundai and Aptiv. Chances are you’ve seen their building near the Airport Connector tunnel approaching Harry Reid International Airport. Las Vegas was one of several different locations for the company, who was essentially using valley roads as a beta test for a hopeful larger deployment of the automatic driving cars.

Motional says they will continue research and development of their technology. It is the forward facing rideshare aspect that will be halted for the time being.

Motional Isn’t The Only Self-Driving Rideshare Company In Las Vegas

Autonomous vehicles have found a home in Southern Nevada. Zoox, an Amazon-backed robotaxi company, has SUVs constantly scouring the Las Vegas streets (with a human driver behind the wheel) to help perfect their technology.

That said, their company is facing their own set of issues, including being investigated by the feds for accidents involving Zoox vehicles in Las Vegas and San Francisco.

Tesla’s “full self driving” has made some large promises (at a hefty price tag) but has never seemed to get past the beta stage. Owners of vehicles have been receiving a 30 day trial of the technology to mixed reviews. Some have said the vehicles are too slow to react. Others say it gets a little too aggressive and puts the user – and the public – in harm’s way.

Robots are just like us. They suck at driving in Las Vegas too.

Sammi Reeves is the afternoon show host on 102.7 VGS. Before her radio career, she worked several jobs in the media industry, specifically involving social media and media buying. As a content creator for 102.7 VGS, Sammi writes Las Vegas content centered around local restaurants, events, and need-to-know news.

Roadside Frustrations: 8 Most Annoying Habits Of Other Drivers

You’re cruising down the road, wind in your hair, and the stereo cranked up to your favorite song. Life couldn’t be better, right? Well, hold on, because here come those annoying drivers determined to ruin your joyride. From the oblivious ones who think turn signals are optional, to the speedsters weaving through traffic like they’re in a Fast and Furious movie. There’s no shortage of infuriating things they do. It’s like they have a secret handbook on how to push our buttons.

You’ve probably dealt with tons of annoying drivers over the years. While the list of annoying drivers could go on, there are eight examples that stand out as the worst of the worst. The next time you find yourself near an annoying driver, take a deep breath, and remember that patience is a virtue.

Is it the person or the car brand?

Does the car’s brand make a driver more annoying? A 2021 survey conducted by Moneybarn in the United Kingdom found that BMW owners were widely regarded as the most disliked drivers on the road, with nearly 40 percent of respondents identifying them as the worst and most prone to causing accidents. Audi came in a distant second at 14 percent.

In the United States, Insurify, a car insurance comparison website, released a report on the Rudest Drivers in 2021. To compile the data, their team analyzed over four million applications, where applicants disclosed their car make and model and any driving violations over the past seven years. The results showed that in 2020, BMW drivers were considered the rudest. In 2021, it was Kia Stinger drivers who took the top spot. Audi A4 Allroad drivers ranked as the second rudest, followed by BMW 4-Series drivers.

Ultimately, it is the driver, not the brand of the car, that determines their behavior on the road. While these findings may suggest certain trends, it would be unfair to make blanket assumptions about all drivers of a particular car brand.

Annoying drivers can really test our patience, but it’s important to stay cool and drive responsibly. Remember, we’re all just trying to get from point A to point B in one piece.

Here are 7 seriously annoying things that other drivers do on the road.

The Lane Hogger
You know the type. They leisurely cruise along in the left lane, seemingly oblivious to the growing line of cars behind them. They show no intention of moving over, despite signs clearly indicating slower traffic should keep right. It’s as if they believe they own that lane and everyone else is just passing through.
The Indecisive Merge Master
You’re approaching a merging lane, diligently signaling your intention to merge, when suddenly you spot them—the driver who can’t seem to commit to either accelerating to merge or slowing down to let you in. They teeter on the edge of indecision, causing a chaotic dance of hesitant maneuvering that disrupts the flow of traffic.
The Tailgater
We’ve all encountered the driver who seemingly has a vendetta against personal space. They ride your bumper with an intensity that could rival a race car driver. Whether they’re running late or simply have a persistent need to assert dominance, their tailgating antics create an anxiety-inducing experience.
The Incessant Honker
Honking is meant to be a communication tool, a gentle reminder to draw attention to potential dangers or to express gratitude. However, a special breed of drivers wield their horns like a weapon of mass annoyance. They honk at the slightest inconvenience, from a fraction-of-a-second delay at a green light to a cautious pedestrian exercising their right of way.
The Distracted Doodler
We’re all aware of the dangers of distracted driving, yet some individuals choose to engage in activities outside the confines of a moving vehicle. From applying makeup and eating full meals to scrolling through social media or engaging in animated conversations, these drivers treat their cars as mobile living rooms. Their lack of focus puts us all at risk, and we can’t help but wonder if they have forgotten that driving requires undivided attention.
The Fast Lane Snail
The left lane, aka the fast lane, is meant for, well, going fast. But there’s always that one driver who decides to take a leisurely Sunday drive right there, blocking everyone else behind them. This forces other drivers to undertake risky maneuvers to overtake them, leading to frustration and potentially dangerous situations.
The Traffic Rule Ignorer
Traffic rules exist for a reason. To maintain order, safety, and efficiency on the roads. However, some drivers seemingly view these rules as mere suggestions. They run red lights, ignore stop signs, and make illegal U-turns with complete disregard for the potential consequences. Their actions create chaos and put everyone around them at risk.
The Turn Signal Skippers
It’s like these drivers believe that turn signals are optional car accessories. They change lanes or make turns without a single blinker in sight, leaving the rest of us to play mind readers and guess their next move.