Waymo’s primary justification for its existence and expansion is its commitment to protecting human life. While some argue that Waymo has not accumulated enough miles to draw definitive conclusions, the company has logged nearly 200 million fully autonomous miles, with statistics suggesting a significantly better safety record than the average human driver, even when accounting for driving conditions.
Last week, Waymo stated, “Waymo has released new data indicating that the Waymo Driver continues to make roads safer in the places in which we operate.”
The latest analysis covers over 170 million fully autonomous miles - equivalent to 200 human lifetimes of driving. The data reveals that, regardless of fault, the Waymo Driver was involved in 92% fewer crashes causing serious or fatal injuries compared to human drivers under similar conditions. Additionally, there were 83% fewer crashes involving airbag deployment and 82% fewer crashes resulting in any injuries.
With the company now driving more than 4 million miles each week, Waymo estimates it prevents a crash leading to serious injury approximately once every 8 days. Waymo encourages readers to view the full analysis and methodology for more details.
Waymo also notes that some medical professionals believe this safety record represents a public health breakthrough, with the potential to significantly reduce road traffic deaths and the impact of crashes.
Last week, Waymo stated, “Waymo has released new data indicating that the Waymo Driver continues to make roads safer in the places in which we operate.”
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The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has consistently advocated for a softer mandate since the targets were published in 2024.
The UK government’s Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) has released a strategy paper emphasizing that renewables, housebuilding, and food production are not competing demands.
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