Waymo's Driverless Taxis In Phoenix And What The Safety Data Shows

I was in downtown Phoenix last week, and these weird-looking cars kept catching my attention. They all have a device on top that reminds me of a truncated version of the rooftop cameras on the Google Street vehicle.

Then I realized what they were: Waymo driverless taxis. They seemed to be everywhere. I noticed them at intersections on busy city streets, as I watched them quietly make their way through traffic.

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Waymo's Surreal Empty Driver's Seat

Seeing the empty driver's seat is really weird, and honestly, a little unsettling. I’ve been reading about these autonomous vehicles for years, but it's still surreal seeing the cars navigate city traffic with no one behind the wheel.

Phoenix has become one of the nation's biggest testing grounds for this technology, and it felt like I was the only one gawking at the driverless cars. They’ve become a normal part of daily life in the city.

READ: Zoox Rolling Out New Driverless Taxis in Phoenix Area

New Study Suggests Waymo Is Safer Than Human Drivers

When these vehicles first hit the road for public rides in 2017, many people raised safety concerns for passengers and pedestrians.

Now, a new study from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has released impressive data on Waymo's safety record that may put critics to rest.

Researchers found that Waymo's fully autonomous vehicles were involved in 68% fewer police-reportable crashes per mile traveled than human drivers across Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Austin. The study examined around “50 million autonomous miles driven by Waymo vehicles,” according to Kelly Blue Book.

Even More Safety Findings for Waymo

But wait, there’s more. The research also found that Waymo vehicles experienced 85% fewer single-vehicle crashes and 81% fewer injury crashes compared to human drivers.

It’s not hard to figure out why. Researchers reported driverless vehicles “don't get distracted, impaired, fatigued, or drowsy”, all factors that typically contribute to crashes where human drivers are behind the wheel.

a woman sitting in a car talking on a cell phone — Photo by Wenny Chen on Unsplash

Would You Take the Ride in a Waymo?

I’ve talked to several people who said they would never get into a driverless vehicle for any reason. I recently rode as a passenger in a car with my highly distractible sister at the wheel, and with statistics like these, I think I’ll take the Waymo over my human relative any day.

black car gps turned on in car — Photo by Brock Wegner on Unsplash

So, I made a decision: I’ve put this on my bucket list for the next time I'm in Maricopa County. I haven’t ridden in a Waymo yet.

Still, after seeing so many of them around Phoenix and reviewing the latest safety data, I'm definitely curious, and I’m going to give it a try the next time I'm in the Valley. If the numbers from the IIHS study are true, it could end up being one of the safest rides I've ever taken.

15 Arizona Jobs That Could Disappear In 10 Years

With automation and apps driving the gig-economy, these 15 jobs could disappear from Arizona in the next ten years.

Is this a good thing for the Grand Canyon State, or will these mostly-entry level occupations cause trouble in our economy?

Only time will tell.

Gallery Credit: Val Davidson

These 16 Things Found in Arizona Grocery Stores are Filthy!

You will definitely want to wash your hands after touching these things in while you're shopping. From bacteria to viruses, these "highly touched" items can get you and your family sick.

Here's what you can do to stay safe.

Gallery Credit: Val Davidson