Part 8/12:
Chris acknowledges that Mad Max mode could be useful in certain contexts—like heavy congestion or being part of a robo-taxi fleet, where speed and efficiency might be prioritized over personal comfort. In thick traffic, aggressive lane changes and higher speeds can help navigate slow-moving vehicles more effectively, as long as the vehicle's environment perception is robust enough to handle such maneuvers safely.
However, he stresses that in urban environments and near pedestrian activity, such modes become less appropriate. He shares recent instances where the vehicle, operating in Mad Max mode, traveled at speeds above the limit, even near pedestrians, without full understanding of local conditions.