Waymo autonomous vehicles were engaged in 68% fewer accidents compared to human drivers in a three-year span across four U.S. cities, as per recent findings from the U.S. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The study revealed 89 Waymo-related crashes in San Francisco, Phoenix, Los Angeles, and Austin from 2021 to 2024. During the same timeframe and in the same locations, excluding interstates and highways, there were 901,525 police-reported accidents involving human drivers.
Steven Waslander, the director of the University of Toronto Robotics Institute, remarked on the significance of witnessing this technology in practical use after years of research. Of the 89 Waymo-involved crashes, 72% occurred when the Waymo vehicle was operating without a driver, with approximately half having passengers on board. The study noted around 80 million kilometers of autonomous Waymo operation versus 355 billion kilometers by human drivers in those areas during the studied period.
The research evaluated crash rates per million miles traveled, showing human drivers experienced 4.06 crashes per million miles while Waymo vehicles had 1.28 crashes per million miles, marking a 68% lower rate for Waymo. The study utilized data from police reports, Waymo, and federal databases to independently analyze Alphabet’s driverless vehicles.
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, incidents involving self-driving cars must be reported if autonomous driving systems were active within 30 seconds of the crash, resulting in specific property damage or injuries. Waymo currently operates in 11 states and is looking to expand to the U.K. and Japan, with lobbying efforts aimed at establishing programs in Canada.
Eric Teoh, the director of statistical services at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, emphasized the positive outlook for driverless vehicles based on the study results. He highlighted that Waymo’s vehicles are involved in fewer and less severe accidents compared to human-driven vehicles, indicating promise for the autonomous vehicle industry.
While Waymo voluntarily reports its data, Teoh suggested that U.S. governments should enhance the accessibility and clarity of datasets for transparency. Challenges remain for Waymo’s entry into the Canadian market due to regulatory hurdles and climate conditions, with experts noting the need for continued learning and development in autonomous vehicle technology.
