Two Navy Vets in Their 80s Take First Driverless Ride

Two octogenarians climbed into a Jaguar with no driver, and their joy reminds us that innovation can still feel like magic.

Navy veteran Kenny and his neighbor Jerry, both in their 80s, took their first ride in a Waymo self-driving car on a sunny Minnesota day. Their friend Amanda called the vehicle, and Kenny's first question when the white Jaguar pulled up was simple: "Where is the guy?"

The confusion turned to pure amazement as the car drove itself down the street. Kenny yelled in disbelief as the steering wheel moved on its own, while Jerry (who is deaf) tried to hug the invisible driver. "I cannot believe this!" Kenny shouted, making sure his seatbelt was fastened tight.

Waymo, developed under Google's parent company Alphabet since 2009, now provides over 1 million rides monthly across Phoenix, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Austin, Atlanta, and Miami. The company plans to expand to more cities and countries, including Japan and the United Kingdom.

As the ride continued, Kenny worried the police would stop them for not having a driver. When the car slowed down, he joked they'd run out of gas and have to walk. But his anxiety melted into wonder. "He did a better job than if someone was driving!" he declared.

At one point, they passed a semi-truck whose driver stared in amazement. Jerry happily waved while people in a nearby taxi gawked at them. The smooth turns and perfect navigation impressed everyone in the car.

Sunny's Take

After arriving at their destination, Kenny thanked the empty driver's seat: "You did an excellent job. I can't believe this!" He immediately saw the bigger picture. "If older people could afford it, that would be good for us old fogies once we lose our license!"

When Amanda asked him to rate the experience, Kenny gave it a ten. Jerry signed "One hundred!" Kenny later reflected that at first he was scared, but the ride changed his mind completely. "It's got everything that a person would want. Everything!"

The heartwarming videos struck a chord online. While some viewers admitted they're still nervous about the technology (one 34-year-old confessed having the same reaction as the grandpas), many were touched by the authentic wonder. One commenter noted how incredible it is "they lived long enough to see what people said would be impossible to them in the '40s and '50s."

Technology that seemed like science fiction during Kenny and Jerry's youth is now real, accessible, and potentially life-changing for older adults who want to maintain independence.