Waymo’s Safety: Fewer Crashes Than Humans?

Recent data reveals that Waymo’s autonomous vehicles have a lower crash rate compared to human drivers, even after covering over 50 million miles. While Waymo vehicles have been involved in accidents, a significant portion were not the company’s fault, often resulting from human error.

Examining Waymo’s Crash Data

Waymo’s comprehensive reporting, mandated by federal regulations, offers a detailed look into the safety of its autonomous technology. An analysis of recent incidents shows a trend: Waymo vehicles frequently adhere to traffic laws while human drivers engage in risky behaviors like speeding or running red lights.

Between July 2024 and February 2025, Waymo reported 38 crashes that triggered airbag deployment or resulted in alleged injuries. Only one of these incidents was definitively attributed to Waymo’s fault. The majority of the remaining crashes were caused by other drivers colliding with stationary Waymo vehicles or violating traffic laws.

Crash Examples

• Rear-end collisions: Multiple instances of human-driven vehicles rear-ending Waymo cars stopped at red lights.
• Lane violations: Cases where other vehicles swerved into Waymo’s path or crossed the center line.
• Passenger-related incidents: A few instances of passengers opening doors into oncoming traffic, despite Waymo’s “Safe Exit” program.

Comparing Crash Rates: Waymo vs. Humans

Waymo’s data suggests a significantly lower crash rate compared to human drivers. In San Francisco and Phoenix, Waymo estimates that human drivers would experience approximately 78 airbag-triggering crashes over 44 million miles driven. In contrast, Waymo vehicles only experienced 13 such crashes, representing an 83% reduction.

Similarly, Waymo estimates an 81% reduction in injury-causing crashes compared to human drivers over the same distance. These statistics highlight the potential safety benefits of autonomous driving technology.

Insurance Claims: A Positive Outlook for Waymo

A study co-authored by Waymo and Swiss Re, a major insurance company, examined insurance claims filed against Waymo. The results showed that Waymo vehicles generated significantly fewer claims for both bodily injury and property damage compared to human drivers. Specifically, Waymo saw a greater than 90% reduction in successful bodily injury claims and an 88% reduction in property damage claims.

While the technology is not perfect and accidents do happen, Waymo’s data indicates a promising trend toward safer roads with autonomous vehicles.

Source: Ars Technica