When the Car Drives Itself – An Interview with Safety Driver Nicholas
Nicholas talks about his tasks, training and overcoming the challenge of letting go of the wheel
The biggest difference between a regular car and an autonomous vehicle is how it starts. "The procedure in an autonomous vehicle is very complex – for a good reason", says Nicholas. He has been working as a driver at MOIA in Hamburg for six years and trained to be a safety driver two years ago. He has thus undergone an extensive process that qualifies him to "drive" an autonomous ridepooling vehicle. Among other things, he had to familiarize himself extensively with technology. This is because before the journey begins, the self-driving-system (SDS), lidar sensors and cameras, which keep an eye on the vehicle and everything that happens 360 degrees around it, are gradually ramped up.
In the interview, Nicholas explains what tasks he takes on as a safety driver in the vehicle, how the training works, and whether he finds it difficult to let go of the wheel.
Hi Nicholas, why did you choose to become a Safety Driver at MOIA?
I've been a driver in Hamburg since 2019. I'm always interested in new things and was one of the first people to drive the barrier-free MOIAs at the beginning of 2023. Before that, I worked as a technical director in the theater, among other things, but was no longer able to do the job for health reasons. However, my love of technology remained. And those were the reasons for me to work as a Safety Driver: The appeal of something new in combination with pioneering technology.
To become a Safety Driver at MOIA, applicants must go through an extensive process. How does this look like?
Before the training to become a safety driver can begin, there are several steps to ensure that a candidate is suitable for the role and that the job truly fits the person. The first step is a simulation-based assessment center. In the driving simulator of an autonomous vehicle, candidates must demonstrate their decision-making skills and reaction speed in complex traffic situations. This is followed by an interview featuring practical case examples, as well as a visit to our hub for the autonomous fleet. There, interested applicants have the opportunity to talk directly with experienced safety drivers, ask questions, and get a firsthand impression of the daily work routine. If everything fits and the training can start, it begins with the Fit-for-Safety-Driver course, which prepares participants for the upcoming training phases. The next step takes place on the test track, a training course designed to simulate a small city and enable realistic traffic situations.
In the first part of the training, the focus is on what we call commentary driving. This means that, in the presence of a trainer, drivers comment on everything they see during the drive, from no-parking signs to cars, bicycles, and pedestrians on the street. On the test track, trainees then get to know the autonomous vehicle in more detail. Everyday traffic scenarios are simulated, and so-called interaction drivers take on the roles of other road users to create the most realistic conditions possible. The final part of the training takes place in real traffic on public roads in Hamburg, the very same streets where MOIA’s autonomous vehicles are already operating today.
In other words, only then will applicants be allowed to drive autonomous vehicles?
Exactly. Before that, a safety training session is held on a test track. As MOIA drivers, we’re trained to drive calmly and smoothly in the city. On the test site, the opposite applies: you drive at a fast pace, reverse slalom, forward slalom, braking maneuvers – always with the mindset of Safety First. The aim is to test your ability to react, because in dangerous situations with the autonomous vehicle, fractions of a second may count. This is a lot of fun but is strictly evaluated. Only then are we allowed behind the wheel of the autonomous vehicle.
What was it like for you to drive the MOIA shuttle for the first time?
That was exciting. First, I drove it on the test track as part of the commentary driving. This was about commenting on everything that could be seen 360 degrees around the vehicle. These journeys were first accompanied by an additional safety driver. Only then did I complete the entire training process as a safety driver. So far, a total of 30 drivers have been trained as safety drivers at MOIA.
Why is commentary driving so important as a Safety Driver?
Commentary driving is used to check whether the cameras and lidar sensors see and transmit everything to the computer that the driver also sees and passes on accordingly. If this is not the case, we must document these errors accordingly for the system. A high level of concentration is required for safety drivers.
Did you find it difficult to let go of the wheel?
As safety drivers, we can't take our hands off the wheel — even if the vehicle is traveling in autonomous mode. Because if something does happen, I must be able to react immediately. Autonomous mode ends immediately when I take over the steering wheel again, apply the brakes, or press the accelerator. Very high safety standards apply — we always have to check with our own eyes that everyone in the vehicle is wearing a seat belt. However, that becomes routine. For me, it's a great feeling when the vehicle is traveling autonomously. I'm always impressed by how smoothly the technology works.
What does autonomous driving mean to you personally?
I'm curious about the technology and how it works. That's why I really wanted to be a safety driver from the very start. I also want to play an active role in shaping the transportation revolution. MOIAs vision in this regard is to have several thousand autonomous shuttles on the streets of Hamburg in a few years. I hope that I can continue to help realize this vision until I retire.
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