Technology
Waymo and Zoox test drivers reported dozens of injuries from abrupt autonomous braking
Review of federal safety data reveals test drivers suffered whiplash, sprains, and other injuries as the robotaxi companies scaled operations.
The short version
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) filings reveal more than two dozen injuries to Waymo and Zoox test drivers in 2024 and 2025.
- Injuries, including severe whiplash, sprains, and back pain, were primarily caused by autonomous vehicles braking abruptly or swerving without warning.
- Both companies emphasized that safety is their top priority and noted these incidents represent a minuscule fraction of millions of miles driven.
Key facts
- Transdev, which manages Waymo's test drivers, reported 16 injuries across San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Phoenix in 2024 and 2025, mostly caused by abrupt braking or sudden swerves.[TechCrunch]
- Zoox reported up to eight injuries to test drivers and trainers linked to vehicle maneuvers and sudden deceleration.[TechCrunch]
- Reported injuries included whiplash, sprains, wrist fractures, and back pain, with some workers requiring months of recovery time before returning to work.[TechCrunch]
- Four of the Zoox injuries occurred after the company issued a recall intended to resolve unexpected braking behaviors.[TechCrunch]
- Zoox claimed the recall addressed a highly specific braking behavior and that subsequent injuries were unrelated to that software fix.[TechCrunch]
What remains uncertain
- It remains unverified how many injuries have occurred in 2026, as companies are not yet required to submit annual safety data to OSHA for the current year.[TechCrunch]
- While current and former Zoox contractors claimed that hard-braking issues and injuries continued through mid-2026, Zoox declined to address those specific allegations.[TechCrunch]