Waymo has been steadily expanding its fleet of autonomous taxis in the greater Los Angeles area, reaching 79 square miles between Santa Monica and downtown. After accumulating over 1.9 million miles on city streets, the company is now gearing up for what many might assume is a daunting next step: navigating LA’s infamous freeways. However, experts suggest that freeway driving may actually be easier for self-driving cars than navigating local streets.
As Waymo enters this new phase, questions about safety and accident rates remain at the forefront. How well will autonomous vehicles handle high-speed traffic? And what do Waymo’s accident statistics tell us about their performance compared to human drivers?
Waymo Takes on LA Freeways
Waymo received regulatory approval to operate on California freeways in the summer of 2024, marking a major milestone for its driverless taxi service. Unlike local streets, which require frequent stops, maneuvering around pedestrians, and reacting to unpredictable obstacles like delivery robots, freeways present fewer variables.
According to Rahul Jain, a professor at USC specializing in autonomous driving research, freeway driving is actually more predictable than surface streets. He points out that common driver-assist technologies, such as adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist, already help human drivers manage freeway travel. Waymo’s advanced technology—featuring 360-degree vision and predictive modeling—goes even further, allowing its vehicles to handle lane changes and speed adjustments seamlessly.
The Challenges of Freeway Driving
Although freeway driving might be more predictable, it also requires faster decision-making than city streets. Vehicles must adjust speeds quickly, merge across multiple lanes, and respond to sudden changes in traffic flow.
Experts highlight that “edge cases,” or unexpected scenarios, remain a challenge for autonomous systems. One common example is responding to emergency vehicles. When human drivers hear sirens, they instinctively pull over to allow first responders to pass. For an autonomous vehicle, detecting the source of the siren and making the right decision in a fast-moving environment can be tricky.
Waymo’s testing phase will likely focus on improving its ability to recognize and respond to these unpredictable scenarios.
Waymo’s Safety Record and Accident Statistics
As Waymo expands its operations, safety remains a primary concern. The company has logged millions of miles in autonomous mode, but how does its accident record compare to human drivers?
Between 2021 and December 16, 2024, Waymo vehicles have been involved in 632 reported incidents. However, it’s important to note that many of these were not caused by Waymo itself. Autonomous cars must share the road with human drivers, who may behave unpredictably or cause crashes that involve self-driving vehicles.
Studies conducted by Waymo show that their crash rate is significantly lower than that of human drivers. A study analyzing 25.3 million miles of Waymo driving found that, when compared to human-driven vehicles:
- Waymo had fewer property damage claims (9 vs. 78 expected for human drivers).
- Waymo had fewer bodily injury claims (2 vs. 26 expected for human drivers).
This data suggests that autonomous driving technology, when deployed correctly, has the potential to reduce accidents and improve overall road safety.
Other Autonomous Vehicle Companies and Safety Concerns
Waymo is not the only company navigating the challenges of autonomous driving. General Motors’ Cruise division recently faced setbacks after an incident involving a pedestrian, leading to its suspension in California. Meanwhile, Tesla’s Autopilot and Full Self-Driving (FSD) systems have been involved in numerous accidents, including some fatal crashes.
A report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) revealed that nearly 400 crashes in an 11-month period involved partially automated driver-assist systems, with 273 of those incidents involving Tesla vehicles.
This stark contrast to Waymo’s lower accident rate suggests that fully autonomous technology—when properly monitored—may be safer than driver-assist systems that still rely on human input.
What’s Next for Waymo?
Waymo’s expansion to LA freeways is a significant step in proving that autonomous vehicles can handle high-speed, high-traffic environments. As the company continues testing and refining its technology, freeway travel could become another area where self-driving cars outperform human drivers in safety.
With 632 reported accidents and a track record of lower crash rates than human drivers, Waymo’s performance suggests that autonomous taxis could play a major role in reducing collisions and improving road safety. However, challenges remain, particularly in responding to unpredictable situations that require quick decision-making.
As more real-world data emerges from Waymo’s freeway trials, it will provide valuable insight into whether self-driving cars are truly ready for one of the most stressful driving environments in the world: Los Angeles freeways during rush hour.
Would you feel comfortable taking a Waymo on the freeway? Let us know your thoughts!