Waymo robotaxis crashed 68% less often than human drivers in independent safety study

The IIHS reviewed 2021-2024 crash data and found Waymo robotaxis had 1.28 police-reportable crashes per million miles versus 4.06 for human drivers, about 68% lower.

After adjusting for differences in crash reporting, the study found lower crash rates and generally less severe crashes for Waymo overall.

Performance varied by city, with weaker results in Austin during limited testing.

The findings suggest real progress in autonomous safety, but they also show the limits of broad industry comparisons.