From Engadget · Alec Hively · · 1m 50s
Robotaxis aren't always a smooth ride
Safety data reveals injuries, glitches and crashes as Waymo, Zoox and Tesla expand autonomous taxi services.
In brief
Safety data reveals injuries, glitches and crashes as Waymo, Zoox and Tesla expand autonomous taxi services. Robotaxis cause fewer crashes than human drivers overall, but injuries to test drivers and recurring software failures raise questions about their readiness for widespread use. Originally reported by Engadget.
Robotaxis crash less than humans
Google's Waymo robotaxis were involved in 65 percent fewer crashes than human drivers last year, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
But test drivers got injured
A September twenty twenty-six TechCrunch report using OSHA data found that Waymo and Zoox, owned by Amazon, caused dozens of injuries to test drivers training autonomous vehicles.
Sudden stops cause most injuries
Brake jabs were the most common cause of injury for autonomous vehicle testers, often caused by phantom debris detected by the cars' sensors.
Vehicles fail in bad conditions
Zoox recalled over one hundred vehicles after a software glitch caused one to drive into an active emergency. Waymo recalled taxis that drove into flooded streets.
Software crashes cause traffic jams
In Wuhan, China, a system malfunction caused at least one hundred robotaxis to stop in the middle of the road. Similar congestion has hit San Antonio, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Atlanta.
Watch for warning signs
Erratic swerving, unreasonable speeds, sudden braking and traffic law violations are obvious red flags. Unnecessarily complex routes and technical glitches may also signal problems.
How to stop a malfunctioning ride
Waymo offers a Pull Over command in its app and display. Tesla's Cybercab has a Pull Over option and Stop button. Zoox provides an Emergency Call Button in the overhead section.
What to do after a crash
Treat the incident like any car accident. Call nine one one if anyone is seriously injured. Your robotaxi should contact its support service, or you can initiate the accident protocol via the app.
The one thing
Robotaxis cause fewer crashes than human drivers overall, but injuries to test drivers and recurring software failures raise questions about their readiness for widespread use.
