Love them or loathe them, robotaxis have been one of the most talked-about innovations of 2024. While Tesla’s flashy Cybercab robotaxi captures attention with its sci-fi allure, safety remains a dominant theme in public discourse around self-driving vehicles (SDVs).

Earlier this year, a survey revealed that 68% of Americans cited safety as their primary concern with SDVs on public roads. Interestingly, more than half of this group remains optimistic, believing that safety challenges can be resolved or that SDVs might eventually surpass human drivers in safety.

Waymo, Alphabet’s autonomous vehicle division and the only active robotaxi operator in the U.S., has taken strides to address these concerns. A new study conducted in collaboration with Swiss Re, a leading insurance company, highlights the impressive safety performance of Waymo’s self-driving technology. Drawing on data from over 500,000 insurance claims and 200 billion miles of driving exposure, the study found Waymo’s vehicles achieved an 88% reduction in property damage claims and a 92% drop in bodily injury claims compared to human drivers.

The study's real-world figures are telling: Waymo vehicles logged 25.3 million miles with only nine property damage claims and two bodily injury claims. For the same distance, human drivers would statistically be responsible for 78 property damage and 26 bodily injury claims.

While Waymo celebrates its safety milestones, the competition has faced setbacks. General Motors’ Cruise halted operations after a fatal pedestrian accident, and GM has ceased funding the program. Meanwhile, Tesla faces scrutiny from regulators investigating its full self-driving software following multiple crashes and a fatality. Despite this, Tesla remains committed to launching its Cybercab service in 2025.

As safety concerns continue to dominate the conversation, it’s clear that robotaxis are reshaping the automotive landscape. With advancements and regulatory challenges unfolding, the road ahead remains complex for the autonomous driving industry.