---
title: "Robotaxi Safety Risks: Injuries, Sudden Stops, and Glitches"
description: "Via Engadget: Waymo, Zoox and Tesla robotaxis are improving but passengers face risks including injuries and dangerous maneuvers. According to IIHS, Waymo ro..."
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---

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### Robotaxi Safety Risks: Injuries, Sudden Stops, and Glitches

Engadget • September 22, 2026 at 10:00 AM ET

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Waymo, Zoox and Tesla robotaxis are improving but passengers face risks including injuries and dangerous maneuvers. According to IIHS, Waymo robotaxis had 65 percent fewer crashes than human drivers, with internal stats showing 94 percent reduction in serious injuries. However, Tech Crunch's September 2026 report using OSHA data revealed dozens of injuries to test drivers at Waymo and Zoox from sudden stops and training mistakes, though the dataset is incomplete due to reporting limits.

Tesla's robotaxis in Austin recorded more accidents than human drivers, with news reports citing incidents of vehicles plowing into barriers, swerving into traffic, and running red lights. These issues, while infrequent, raise concerns as the technology scales. Autonomous vehicles struggle with uncertain road conditions.

In July 2026, Zoox recalled over 100 vehicles after a glitch caused one to drive into an active emergency, and Waymo recalled taxis for driving into flooded streets. Tesla faces a federal probe over reduced-visibility software issues. Sudden stops, often triggered by phantom debris or brake jabs, are the leading cause of AV tester injuries, per UC Irvine research.

Software malfunctions have also stranded robotaxis in Wuhan, San Antonio, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Atlanta, causing traffic blockages.

[Read original article](https://www.engadget.com/2262080/robotaxi-what-passengers-should-look-out-for/)

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