Waymo’s expanding fleet of autonomous vehicles in Los Angeles County has been involved in an increasing number of crashes, prompting questions about the safety and regulation of robotaxis as they become more common on city streets. According to data compiled by the California Autonomous Vehicle Crash Dashboard, Waymo reported 186 crashes in Los Angeles County so far this year, compared with 219 in 2025 and 69 in 2024. Most incidents involved no apparent injuries, with a significant portion occurring while the vehicle was stationary.
The majority of these collisions involved passenger vehicles, with some incidents involving heavy trucks or emergency response vehicles. In one case, a Waymo vehicle yielding to an emergency vehicle was struck, requiring towing but causing no injuries. In another, a truck rear-ended a Waymo car stopped at a traffic light, with minor injuries alleged by a passenger. More than 80% of the crashes this year resulted in no apparent injuries, 15% may have caused minor injuries, and fewer than 1% led to suspected serious injury.
Waymo’s crash data in Los Angeles reflect a broader trend across California, where more than 590 accidents involving its autonomous vehicles were reported in 2025 — nearly double the 304 crashes logged in 2024. Experts attribute the rise primarily to the growing number of robotaxis on the road rather than a decline in safety. In fact, Waymo reports a significant improvement in crash rates per mile driven, declining from approximately 57 crashes per million miles in 2023 to fewer than six crashes per million miles this year.
Company officials emphasize that their vehicles have collectively driven the equivalent of around 300 human lifetimes without causing serious injuries, estimating that they have prevented injuries to more than 800 people. “We look at every crash, every close call, and try to improve the driver to avoid those things,” said Kris Kusano, Waymo’s head of safety data research. “The data we have is quite conclusive that, yes, they are safer than average drivers in the cities we operate in.”
Other companies, such as Zoox, are also testing autonomous vehicles in California, with Zoox having been involved in 18 crashes this year. Unlike Waymo, Zoox develops its robotaxis from the ground up, rather than adapting existing vehicles. Meanwhile, Tesla recently launched its Cybercab in Austin, Texas, which has drawn scrutiny from federal regulators regarding proper certification. Variations in technology and regulatory frameworks have made it difficult to compare safety across different autonomous vehicle systems.
Despite the positive safety indicators presented by companies like Waymo, public officials and communities have expressed concerns about the expanding use of robotaxis. San Diego City Councilmember Marni Von Wilpert criticized the lack of local control, noting the surprise at robotaxi deployment in her city. The council recently requested state authority to regulate when and how robotaxis operate locally. Similarly, Culver City and Santa Monica have passed measures aimed at managing fleet operations and reducing disturbances such as noise from charging stations.
Experts caution that autonomous vehicle safety data largely reflect performance under controlled conditions and moderate weather. “Autonomous vehicles are likely quite safer than human drivers for most driving conditions,” said analyst Alex Raifman, but added that this safety record applies only “within the context of where the AVs are allowed to operate today.” Skeptics also warn that companies may underreport or misclassify incidents, while ongoing technological advances and regulatory changes continue to reshape the industry.
William Riggs, director of the Autonomous Vehicles and the City Initiative at the University of San Francisco, said that the most advanced autonomous systems currently operate at collision rates lower than human drivers in certain environments. Nevertheless, he noted, it remains premature to conclude whether the autonomous vehicle sector as a whole is definitively safer than human-driven vehicles.