Waymo reported 82% fewer injury crashes than human drivers — InsideEVs

In the United States, Waymo said that its self-driving vehicles were involved in crashes with injuries 82% less often than human drivers. The calculations cover 271 million miles traveled by the company’s vehicles in fully autonomous mode without a person behind the wheel.

As InsideEVs reports, Waymo’s data are current as of June and cover five metropolitan areas where its robotaxis operated during the study period. According to the company’s estimate, autonomous vehicles helped avoid approximately 841 injury crashes.

Crash rates

Waymo said its injury-crash rate was 0.67 cases per 1 million miles. For human drivers in the areas where the service operates, this rate was estimated at 3.77 cases per 1 million miles, while the average rate in the United States was 1.9 cases per 1 million miles.

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In San Francisco, according to the company, Waymo’s rate was also 0.67 cases per 1 million miles, while for human drivers it reached 6.64 cases. These comparisons do not cover all road conditions in the country, as Waymo’s self-driving vehicles operated only in a limited number of urban areas.

Severe crashes and vulnerable road users

The company also reported 95% fewer collisions resulting in severe injuries or even more serious consequences than in cases of human driving. The number of incidents involving injured pedestrians, according to its data, was 93% lower, involving cyclists 86% lower, and involving motorcyclists 82% lower.

InsideEVs notes that Waymo’s findings are consistent with the results of a recent independent IIHS study, which also indicated a lower crash frequency involving Waymo’s self-driving robotaxis compared with human drivers.