Autonomous vehicles (AVs) are being developed with the aim of improving road safety and reducing traffic-related injuries and fatalities. Waymo, a company with over a decade of experience in the autonomous driving sector, has shared data on the safety performance of its autonomous driving system, the Waymo Driver, based on millions of miles of real-world operation.
Globally, vehicle crashes result in over 1.19 million deaths and 50 million injuries each year. In the United States, there were 42,514 deaths and 2.5 million injuries in 2022, with an economic impact of $836 billion due to lost lives and injuries. These statistics highlight the potential for autonomous driving technology to improve road safety.
In its first 22 million miles of driving, Waymo reports reductions in several key safety metrics when compared to human-driven vehicles over the same distances in the cities where Waymo operates:
– 84% Fewer Airbag Deployment Crashes: There were 26 fewer airbag deployment incidents, which occur in high-impact collisions.
– 73% Fewer Injury-Causing Crashes: The data shows 46 fewer crashes that resulted in injuries.
– 48% Fewer Police-Reported Crashes: Waymo vehicles were involved in 48% fewer crashes that required police reports.
These figures suggest that the use of autonomous vehicles can lower the frequency of serious traffic incidents in the areas where they operate.
Real-World Experience
Waymo has accumulated over 40 million miles of real-world driving, contributing to the company’s understanding of how autonomous vehicles perform in varied environments. Waymo continues to publish safety research and peer-reviewed studies on its methodologies and safety data.
In an independent evaluation by Swiss Re, an international reinsurer, Waymo vehicles were found to result in 100% fewer bodily injury claims and 76% fewer property damage claims compared to human-driven vehicles. These findings support Waymo’s assertion that its autonomous technology reduces the risk of injury and damage.
