Waymo's robotaxis are involved in fewer crashes than human drivers — a key milestone for earning public trust, a new study shows.

Why it matters: The research from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety offers some of the strongest evidence yet that driverless vehicles can outperform human drivers on safety.

State of play: IIHS researchers compared crash rates of human-driven cars and Waymo robotaxis here and in Phoenix, Los Angeles and Austin.

• Waymo vehicles were involved in 68% fewer "police-reportable crashes" per mile traveled than human drivers in those cities.
• Waymo had 85% fewer single-vehicle crashes than human drivers.
• Injury crashes were 81% lower on a per-mile basis.

The intrigue: The safety advantage varied by city, ranging from 76% fewer crashes in Phoenix to 35% fewer in San Francisco.

Yes, but: The findings arrive after a string of attention-grabbing incidents in San Francisco that have fueled debate over robotaxis despite their overall safety record.

• While the new research bolsters Waymo's argument that its technology can improve road safety, local officials are increasingly questioning whether the vehicles are ready to handle the city's biggest events and emergencies.
• The city's driverless fleet continues to face scrutiny for high-profile traffic meltdowns and other unusual incidents, including when dozens of Waymos became stranded in gridlocked traffic after the city's Fourth of July fireworks celebration near the Golden Gate Bridge.

Between the lines: In response, Mayor Lurie urged California transportation officials to adopt tougher standards for autonomous vehicle operators before allowing them to continue expanding.

The big picture: The IIHS findings largely align with Waymo's own research that autonomous vehicles can avoid crashes caused by human error, such as distracted, impaired or fatigued driving.

Reality check: The study also underscores how difficult it is to independently evaluate the broader autonomous vehicle industry.

• The nation's patchwork approach to autonomous vehicle safety data makes it difficult to accurately compare crash rates, IIHS argues.

Between the lines: Waymo is the only major robotaxi operator that voluntarily releases driverless mileage data.

• But IIHS researchers had to discard roughly 25% of reported crashes because they were duplicates, occurred off public roads or weren't true crashes.

The bottom line: The new study suggests Waymos are safer than human drivers on a per-mile basis.

• But the city's recent traffic headaches highlight that crash rates are only one measure of whether autonomous vehicles are ready to operate at scale.

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Table for one? Turns out, you're not alone.

The big picture: Industry data suggests that solo dining is on the rise as more people skip group meals in favor of treating themselves on their own.

• At full-service restaurants, reservations for one jumped 22% in the third quarter of 2025 from the same time a year earlier, Toast data shows.

📣 Weigh in: Hit reply or email us to share your favorite spots for dining solo and why.

• Do you prefer the bar or a table? And what makes a restaurant worth visiting on your own?

🏃 Expect traffic delays this weekend as the San Francisco Marathon brings more than 30 road closures and transit reroutes across the city. (SFGATE)

🗳️ Voters will once again decide the future of the Great Highway this November — a proposal to reopen the Great Highway during weekdays has officially qualified for the ballot. (SF Chronicle)

🏙️ Jackson Square is officially being folded into downtown under a new Downtown SF Partnership initiative aimed at boosting the neighborhood alongside the city's core. (SF Standard)

🎻 Danny DeVito is joining the San Francisco Symphony to narrate "Matilda" live with the orchestra in a special performance. (KRON4)

⚖️ SF DA Brooke Jenkins has charged 18 people with misdemeanor offenses after their arrests at the unpermitted "Stud Alley" Pride weekend block party. (KQED)

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