Self-driving cars are the innovation many have been waiting for for years. Cities across the U.S. are testing self-driving cars, enabling commuters to hail them in the same way as a manned Uber.
Currently, Forbes found that consumers are anxious about self-driving cars, with 93% of people surveyed stating that they were concerned about the safety of these vehicles. It’s unnerving for many people to have a car that drives itself, but what do the numbers say about the safety of self-driving vehicles, and how are they performing in Austin?
In today’s article, we will cover the track record of self-driving cars in Austin and whether they’re as safe as autonomous vehicle companies claim.
Key Takeaways
Driverless cars are already operating on the roads of Austin, with around 125 vehicles already on the roads from multiple manufacturers.
These vehicles have been legal since the Texas Transportation Code was amended in 2017, but the first cars didn’t reach the road until 2024.
Studies have shown that human-operated vehicles are safer than driverless vehicles, but the figures used are over a decade old.
Several incidents involving self-driving cars Austin and nationwide in cities like San Francisco have been reported. Currently, Waymo – the leading provider of AVs in Austin – is under federal investigation.
Accident victims are entitled to file a lawsuit if they’re injured by a self-driving vehicle. However, they’re likelier to file a product liability lawsuit than a personal injury case.
If you were injured in an accident involving a self-driving car, establishing liability and proving negligence can be difficult, so hire a lawyer to fight your case.
What to Know About Self-Driving Cars in Austin
Self-driving vehicles are already operating in Austin in limited numbers from multiple companies. According to Austin's Transportation and Public Works Department, 125 autonomous vehicles are available in and around Austin.
Although autonomous vehicles have existed for decades, the state only legalized them in 2017. Unlike other traffic-related issues, cities have no individual power to regulate autonomous vehicles, with issues settled by the state government. Despite this, the Texas A&M Transportation Institute stated that in 2017, the Lone Star State had no systems in place for verifying the capabilities of these automated driving systems.
All vehicles will operate slightly differently, but they’ll all rely on cameras, lidar sensors, radar, and GPS to get around and deal with obstacles.
Currently, several companies are operating self-driving vehicles. Likewise, multiple companies are planning to launch these vehicles in Texas’s tech capital in the near future. Some of the businesses offering rides include:
Cruise also used to operate these rides in Austin, but they ceased all nationwide operations in October 2023. Currently, Lyft is the only company offering an autonomous ride hailing service as part of their standard app service. Other providers only offer these autonomous rides for testing purposes, thus requiring invite codes.
When Did Driverless Vehicles Become Legal in Texas?
Driverless vehicles have been legal to operate in Texas since 2017. According to the Austin government, the Texas Legislature approved Senate Bill 2205 in 2017 to accommodate self-driving cars. This requires an amendment to the Texas Transportation Code.
Despite the Texas Legislature giving the go-ahead for self-driving cars to operate within the state, it wasn’t until 2024 that self-driving cars started operating in Austin. Autonomous vehicle company Waymo, with its partnership with Uber, began operating in March 2024.
Waymo’s first tentative steps into the market led to a flurry of other companies arriving soon after. It’s clear that Waymo’s competitors didn’t want to fall too far behind and risk losing control of this emerging market.
Waymo Under Federal Investigation in Austin
Waymo was placed under federal investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on May 13th, per Reuters. The investigation centers on a specific generation of cars and cites that the vehicles led to traffic problems in several cities, including Austin. The accusations also cite several crashes.
The NHTSA has acted according to its Standing General Order that requires manufacturers and operators of these vehicles to report accidents directly. Under the Standing General Order, the NHTSA reserves the right to remove vehicles from public roads.
None of the incidents cited in the federal investigation occurred in Austin. Approximately 17 of the incidents included fires and crashes in other U.S. cities, like San Francisco. On a side note, none of these incidents led to injuries.
The investigation centers on the 5th generation of Waymo’s vehicles, focusing on their automated driving systems and their ability to detect traffic control devices. It’s a massive setback for Waymo, owned by Google’s parent company Alphabet Inc.
Despite the ongoing federal investigation, Waymo has already announced that in late 2024 or early 2025, the public will be able to hail a Waymo driver (autonomous vehicles) through the Waymo One app. Currently, there’s a waiting list for people who want to try it out.
How Safe Are Self-Driving Cars?
Self-driving cars are statistically safer than human drivers in most situations. Emerging research demonstrates that autonomous cars have already made tremendous strides in improving safety. On the other hand, self-driving cars demonstrate problems, particularly with turns and in low-light conditions.
According to the New Scientist, studies have shown that self-driving cars perform better than humans under routine circumstances. On the other hand, they caution that the technology doesn’t perform as well when lighting levels are low, such as at dawn, dusk, and during the night.
But what are the current accident rates for driverless cars?
According to Gitnux, driverless cars have a crash rate of 9.1 incidents per million miles. Cars driven by humans have an accident rate of 4.1 incidents per million miles. Before jumping to conclusions, it’s essential to put this into context.
Driverless cars are relatively rare and drive far fewer miles than human-driven cars, meaning any incident will have a disproportionate impact on the statistics. Another point to remember is these figures don’t factor in the severity of accidents. After all, there’s a vast difference between a fender-bender and a multi-car pileup at high speeds.
There’s no doubt that there are teething issues with the technology behind self-driving vehicles, but it’s much too early to state that they’re inherently unsafe.
What Do the People Think?
The majority of Americans have yet to come around to the potential benefits of self-driving rideshares. According to AAA Texas, 68% of drivers in Texas fear self-driving vehicles. It’s a 13% increase from last year, the most significant since 2020.
In fact, the number of Americans who trust these vehicles to operate at all is extremely low. A Forbes study found in 2023 that just 9% of Americans said they trusted these machines to get them to where they needed to go safely.
It’s natural to be nervous about a brand-new technology and the impact it could have on the roads. Skepticism is typically rife with new technology because of the fear of change. However, what reasons do people cite for their opposition to the self-driving age?
Misunderstanding of the technology
High-profile traffic incidents
Fear of hacking
Fear of getting injured
Ethical concerns
Even the most voracious proponent of self-driving vehicles cannot deny that self-driving vehicles have an image problem. It’s going to take an upgrade to the technology and time for people to eventually trust this technology.
What is the Accident Rate for Self-Driving Cars?
The accident rate for self-driving cars is 9.1 incidents per million miles traveled, compared to 4.1 incidents for human-operated vehicles. Although this is substantial, it’s vital to remember the flaws in these numbers.
The issue with these figures is that they are criminally outdated. The actual study CNBC News reported on was taken in 2013. Despite being over a decade old, the findings of this study continue to be parroted today. A decade has seen autonomous cars becoming unrecognizable compared to their compatriots from back then.
However, as self-driving cars are being tested on public roads, the number of collision reports is increasing. According to the California Department of Motor Vehicles, there have already been 690 autonomous vehicle crashes.
For now, it’s essential to take any statistics on the safety of these vehicles with a chunk of salt. They have been in the mid-development stage for some time and are nowhere near the finished product. As it stands, vehicle manufacturers are still in the testing phase and are continually developing the technology behind it.
In short, we don’t have enough information to know one way or the other.
What are the Risks of Self-Driving Cars?
The risks of self-driving cars are all in the technology. If the technology doesn’t function correctly, drivers, passengers, and pedestrians could be injured because the vehicle fails to detect hazards. Currently, there have been three fatalities across the U.S. relating to autonomous cars.
An analysis of autonomous vehicle incidents brings up the same problems each time. Here’s a rundown of the risks associated with self-driving cars:
Idyllic Testing Conditions – All self-driving cars are tested virtually, but this is often done in idyllic conditions with perfect weather, roads, and visibility, with all drivers obeying the law. This makes these vehicles wholly unprepared for the realities of the roads. With so many unknowns, the vehicles don’t have the protocols to react.
Faulty Sensors – Vehicles use sensors as their “eyes” to perceive their surroundings. If these are faulty and they can’t calculate the distance between objects or register an obstacle, there’s an increased risk of a traffic accident.
Software Malfunction – Autonomous technology relies on algorithms and software to function. A faulty code could mean the vehicle reacts incorrectly and causes an accident.
Inaccurate Mapping – Automated vehicles utilize existing mapping data to know the layout of the roads. If these aren’t regularly updated, vehicles could take wrong turns or miss out on important information, such as construction works, thus resulting in an accident.
All these potential risks could result in injuries and fatalities on the roads, which is why manufacturers have to be so careful regarding how they deal with these issues.
What is the Biggest Problem With Self-Driving Cars?
Self-driving cars face several challenges to becoming a regular sight on the roads, including workforce effects, safety, hackability, and the concept of autonomy. Only by overcoming these issues are we likely to see an eruption in self-driving cars on the roads of Austin.
The autonomous vehicle revolution will face issues with technology, the public, and ethical arguments. Let’s run through the four major issues that stand in the way of self-driving cars.
Workforce Effects
Self-driving car technology will have a human cost because if fully autonomous vehicles become a reliable form of transportation, there will no longer be a need for human drivers. That means several occupations face losing their jobs, such as:
Rideshare drivers
Delivery services
Bus drivers
Truck drivers
Taxi drivers
In other words, millions of American jobs could be at risk, which could well put the brakes on automated cars becoming the norm.
Hackability
Concerns over how hackable these vehicles are persist. Since these cars use computer technology, the software is open to exploitation. Although it sounds like it originates from the realm of science fiction, it’s already happened.
National Public Radio reported in 2015 that two individuals managed to hack a Tesla Model S when stress testing its security. Although the incident didn’t result in any significant consequences, it’s an example of what could happen to self-driving cars if there are security flaws.
Safety
The safety issue is paramount because all it takes is one incorrect decision to potentially cost someone their life. It’s no secret that several incidents have already occurred that have led to these vehicles incorrectly perceiving the environment.
Safety concerns are also the leading reason why many Americans don’t trust these vehicles and why there are still only a small number of cities that permit them to be on public roads at all.
Autonomy
Driverless technology is already a thing, but it requires limited human control through safety drivers and intervention options. Assuaging safety concerns could mean drivers must keep their hands on the wheel or stay alert on the road, meaning human error can still play a part.
Essentially, these are semi-autonomous cars, and they already exist. Tesla already uses it in the form of autopilot. It’s a form of autonomous driving assistance technology that aids drivers in navigating the roads.
But even semi-autonomous vehicles have their problems. ABC News reported in 2019 that Tesla was being sued because one of their Model S cars collided with a tractor-trailer, leading to one fatality. The driver in question had initiated the autopilot mode only seconds before the crash.
How Can Self-Driving Cars Contribute to a Zero-Accident Future?
Self-driving cars are widely anticipated to improve road traffic safety and remove accidents from the equation by taking away the human error element. According to ResearchGate, 94% of accidents result from human error, illustrating how substantial it is as a contributor.
But how could this become a reality? Experts cite three key areas that will prove crucial in making a zero-accident future a reality:
Real-Time Data – Using real-time data gained through cameras and sensors provides these vehicles with a 360-degree view of their surroundings. Essentially, they’ll be able to operate with eyes similar to humans. It’s this real-time information that will support split-second decision-making.
Advanced Algorithms – AI is the heart and soul of these cars. It’s their advanced algorithms that allow them to analyze and interpret the data that’s been fed into the software from the array of sensors and cameras in real time. If successful, these algorithms can anticipate and act against hazards well before a human driver.
Vehicle Coordination – Vehicles of the future will be able to communicate with each other, regardless of make, model, or manufacturer. Safe coordination will allow these vehicles to adjust according to the actions of another vehicle, thus reducing the need for human intervention from the driver's seat.
A zero-accident future isn’t impossible, but it’s certainly not something about to manifest shortly. Currently, these vehicles haven’t been developed enough to be relied upon over humans.
Likewise, it’s not a far-fetched future. On a more basic level, self-driving vehicles have already made a tremendous difference. For example, self-driving subway trains in Singapore have been used for several years without any major incidents.
What are Your Legal Rights With Self-Driving Cars in Texas?
Accident victims have the right to file a personal injury lawsuit and claim compensation if they were involved in an accident with a self-driving vehicle. You were injured, and it wasn’t your fault, which is why you have the right to consult a Austin car accident lawyer and sue.
The issue is that you are probably not going to file a personal injury lawsuit against the other driver’s insurance company because there was no insurer. There also wasn’t a driver, meaning that the nature of your lawsuit changes.
For example, if you were sitting at an intersection and a self-driving car drove into the back of you, it’s clear that there was a defect in the product. Instead of a personal injury lawsuit, you’d file a lawsuit against the vehicle manufacturer for a defective product.
Regardless of whether a human was driving or not, you don’t lose the right to make a claim against somebody if you’re injured in an accident that wasn’t your fault.
Has There Been Any Self-Driving Car Accidents in Austin? Key Incidents and Reports
Several self-driving car accidents have been reported in Austin. Thankfully, no serious injuries have been reported, but each incident has led to property damage. Here’s a round-up of key incidents from the past year from the Texas Tribune:
August 23rd – A Cruise AV was reported to have crashed directly into a brick wall on West Avenue. Unfortunately, since this particular model didn’t actually have a steering wheel, emergency personnel had to call a tow truck because they were unable to remove it.
September 11th – Late at night, a resident’s car was struck by a driverless vehicle from the manufacturer Cruise. The incident occurred when the driver attempted to merge into traffic from behind. The vehicle left the scene without stopping.
September 14th – Another incident saw a report that a group of autonomous vehicles were involved in a near-miss at an intersection in Austin. A large group of emergency vehicles raced them, leading to two Cruise autonomous vehicles almost pulling out in front of State Trooper SUVs.
These three incidents are an example of the 33 complaints reported to the Austin Transportation and Public Works Department between July and September 2024.
How a Lawyer Can Help With Self-Driving Car Accidents
Determining liability is especially difficult in car accidents involving automated vehicles. You may be able to sue the manufacturer, a vehicle owner, or another human driver. It all depends on the circumstances, which is why these lawsuits are so complicated.
Working with an Austin car accident lawyer enables you to hand your case over to them. They’ll conduct a comprehensive investigation into your accident and gather the evidence necessary to prove liability, identify the at-fault party, and assess your damages.
With such complexities involved in dealing with these types of accidents, hiring a lawyer enables you to maximize your settlement award and give yourself peace of mind while you recover from your injuries. Contact your car accident attorney today for a free consultation.
Self-Driving Cars FAQs
What causes self-driving cars to crash?
Driverless vehicles crash for various reasons but rear-end is the most common type of accident. These crashes occur when a human-operated vehicle fails to stop in time and runs into the back of a driverless car. Alternatively, they can occur when automated vehicles don’t detect the hazard, and the passenger fails to take control of the car in time.
Can self-driving cars ever be 100% safe?
Currently, the zero-accident future projected by proponents of these vehicles is an aspirational one based on technology that doesn’t exist yet. Beating humans in every scenario will require further enhancements, but the foundation of the technology is there. In the future, self-driving vehicles are likely to surpass humans.
What year will most cars be self-driving?
The automotive industry varies wildly on when it predicts fully self-driving cars will hit public roads. According to the latest predictions, most automotive experts agree that we’ll see autonomous vehicles become the present around 2035. However, there’s plenty of debate regarding the validity of this prediction.
