Autonomous taxis slash crash risk: what Waymo's data reveal

Neurosurgeon Jonathan Slotkin, writing in the New York Times, reported that Waymo’s data point to a sharp drop in crash rates when autonomous taxis are in use. Across 160 million kilometers driven in four cities, the company’s systems were associated with 91% fewer crashes that led to serious injuries and 80% fewer crashes that resulted in any injuries compared with regular human drivers. At intersections—where most fatal collisions occur—the reduction reached 96%.

In the United States, more than 39,000 people die in traffic crashes each year, and collisions are the second leading cause of death among children and young people. Slotkin emphasized that broader adoption of autonomous systems could markedly improve the situation, even if only a portion of motorists used the technology.

The figures are stark and hard to dismiss. Still, Waymo’s hardware remains costly, and the company’s datasets come primarily from urban environments. Experts believe that as the technology matures, autonomous systems can move into the mainstream. For buyers weighing their next car, the safety implications alone make this trend one to watch.