Waymo autonomous vehicles experience 68% fewer crashes than human drivers on a per-mile basis, according to the American Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
The American Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) reported that Waymo driverless cars crash 68% less often than human-driven vehicles. The study, which analyzed data from San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Austin, found that robotaxis were involved in 85% fewer single-vehicle collisions and 81% fewer injury-causing collisions per mile traveled. While the results are encouraging, the IIHS noted that current data collection systems are not yet sufficient for large-scale expansion. The institute highlighted that human drivers are often prone to drowsiness or lapses in attention, whereas Level 4 autonomous vehicles can maintain consistent performance. However, researchers cautioned that comparisons can be difficult because human drivers are only required to report significant collisions, while self-driving cars must report all incidents. Despite these findings, some experts suggest that Waymo’s safety record is still being tested against professional for-hire fleets. Researchers from Hunter College noted that while Waymo is safer than the average human driver, the technology still faces challenges regarding data constraints and urban traffic integration.