Self Driving Car Accidents Trends (2024)

Name: Number of ADS-Equipped Vehicles Crashes by Month in U.S., (2021-2024)
Creator: ConsumerShield Research Team
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

Discover the causes and implications of rising self driving car accidents. Explore stats, challenges, and future outlook for safer autonomous vehicles.

Research Team

ConsumerShield

August 6, 2024 Read in 3 mins

Data

Number of ADS-Equipped Vehicles Crashes by Month in U.S., (2021-2024)

www.consumershield.com

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*2024 June data is available through June 17.
Source: NHTSA

Research

How Many Self Driving Cars Have Crashed?
Understanding the Increase in Self-Driving Car Crashes
Self Driving Car Deaths Comparison to ADAS2
Comparison of ADS Vehicle Accidents by Company
Self-Driving Car Accident Rate vs Human
Waymo Accident Rate
Implications for the Future of Self Driving Car Statistics
Conclusion

How Many Self Driving Cars Have Crashed?

From July 2021 to June 2024, the number of crashes involving ADS-equipped vehicles has fluctuated but generally increased. Initially, from July to December 2021, crashes ranged from 8 to 14. Moving into 2022, the number steadily increased, peaking at 21 in August. The year 2023 saw sharp spikes, especially in July and August, with 29 and 52 crashes respectively. Recent trends in 2024 show significant monthly changes, peaking at 40 in May before dropping to 8 in June through June 17. Understanding these numbers helps identify patterns and causes.

Understanding the Increase in Self-Driving Car Crashes

Several factors contribute to the rise in accidents of self driving car statistics. One significant factor is the increasing number of self-driving cars on the roads, which naturally leads to a higher total number of accidents. Additionally, the limits of the technology play a crucial role. Despite continuous improvements, self-driving technology is not yet perfect. Issues with sensors, software errors, and the difficulty of interpreting complex road situations can all lead to accidents.

Self Driving Car Deaths Comparison to ADAS2

ADAS2 is not a fully self-driving system. It helps with some driving tasks, but the driver must still pay attention. According to the NHTSA, up to June 2024, fully self driving car deaths were equal to zero. However, cars with ADAS2, which are not fully automated, have been involved in 37 deaths. This shows the difference in safety between fully self-driving cars and those that still need a driver.

Comparison of ADS Vehicle Accidents by Company

The number of crashes for ADS-equipped vehicles differs a lot among companies. Waymo LLC reports the most crashes with 335, much higher than Cruise LLC's 152. Transdev Alternative Services has 114 crashes, while Zoox, Inc. has the least with 55. This shows that Waymo has the most crashes, and Zoox has the fewest. The differences suggest varying fleet sizes, operations, or safety practices among the companies. However, it is hard to draw any definitive conclusions based solely on these numbers since we do not know the total number of each company's cars on the roads.

Number of ADS-Equipped Vehicles Crashes by Company in U.S., (2021-2024)

www.consumershield.com

*The data in the chart is from July 2021 until June 17, 2024.
Source: NHTSA

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Self-Driving Car Accident Rate vs Human

When comparing accident rates, do self driving cars cause more accidents? Self-driving cars have 9.1 crashes per million miles driven, while regular vehicles have 4.1 crashes per million miles. This means that, on average, self-driving cars have more than twice as many accidents as human-driven cars. It is important to note that these rates are based on data up to 2021. Since then, self-driving technology has advanced, potentially leading to improved safety and lower accident rates. However, it is still crucial to understand that continued development and improvement of autonomous vehicle technology are essential.

Waymo Accident Rate

Recently, Waymo conducted a research study and compared it with human benchmarks, showing a significant improvement in safety compared to human drivers. There is a 57% reduction in police-reported crashes, meaning Waymo accident rate is 2.1 incidents per million miles driven. In contrast, human drivers have a rate of 4.85 incidents per million miles. This makes the Waymo Driver's accident rate 2.3 times lower than that of human drivers, highlighting the potential for safer roads with autonomous technology.

Implications for the Future of Self Driving Car Statistics

The increase in self driving car accidents has several effects on the future of these vehicles. Regulators may set stricter safety rules. Public trust in self-driving cars might drop, slowing down their use. Teaching people about the benefits, self-driving car accident rate vs human statistics and safety of self-driving cars is very important.

Conclusion

Self-driving cars are set to change transportation. But more accidents mean we need to stay careful, keep improving, and work together. By learning how many self driving cars have crashed, we can make sure self-driving cars become safer and more efficient in the future.