Sign up for our weekly emails to stay up to date on the latest news!
A new study highlights the safety benefits of autonomous driving technology, showing significant reductions in serious traffic crashes and improved protection for vulnerable road users. Conducted by Waymo, a pioneer in self-driving systems, the research compares its Waymo Driver to human drivers across 56.7 million miles. The results reveal notable decreases in injury-related crashes, particularly those involving pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists, offering hope for safer streets.
Key Highlights
- 92% reduction in injury-involving crashes with pedestrians.
- 82% reduction in injury-involving crashes with cyclists.
- 82% reduction in injury-involving crashes with motorcyclists.
- 96% fewer intersection crashes, a major source of severe injuries.
- 85% fewer crashes with suspected serious or worse injuries.
The study, set for publication in the Traffic Injury Prevention Journal, examined 11 crash types, comparing Waymo’s autonomous system to human benchmarks. It found the Waymo Driver significantly safer when interacting with vulnerable road users (VRUs). For instance, crashes involving pedestrians dropped by 92%, while those with cyclists and motorcyclists each fell by 82%. Intersection crashes, often severe according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), decreased by 96%, thanks to the system’s ability to detect and respond to red-light violations.
The research also suggests an 85% reduction in crashes with serious or worse injuries. Though statistically significant, these findings stem from a small sample due to the rarity of such events. Waymo plans to refine this data with more mileage. While this study didn’t assess fault, a prior Swiss Re analysis, which did, showed even greater safety gains when the Waymo Driver wasn’t at fault.
Mauricio Peña, Waymo’s Chief Safety Officer, said, “It’s exciting to see Waymo’s real positive impact on America’s streets as we expand. This reinforces the Waymo Driver’s role in reducing serious crashes.” Jonathan Adkins of the Governors Highway Safety Association added, “Fewer crashes and injuries, especially for walkers and bikers, is the progress we want from autonomous vehicles.”
Waymo aims to bolster its safety data as operations grow, contributing to discussions on reducing traffic fatalities. Readers can explore the full study and Waymo’s safety hub for more details.
Sign up for our weekly emails to stay up to date on the latest news!
