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2023 Autonomous/Self-Driving Car Accident Statistics

Infographic showing a self-driving car at an intersection with sensors detecting nearby vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists; text reads "Self-Driving Car Accident Statistics for 2023.

Self-driving or autonomous cars are considered to be the impending standard for traffic safety and convenience. With approximately 90% of car accidents caused by human error, self-driving technology may provide numerous benefits and advantages, such as:

  • Ease traffic congestion
  • Extend the driving years of the aging baby boomer population
  • Allow those who are visually or physically impaired to have greater mobility
  • Significantly reduce car crashes caused by human error

But as autonomous driving technology develops, some question how effective these vehicles will be in terms of reducing traffic collisions. In fact, a report from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) notes that autonomous vehicles may only prevent around one third of all car accidents.

Self-Driving Car Accident Statistics for 2023

In the sections below, we will take a look at self-driving car accident statistics for 2023. We’ll also provide important information on filing a California car accident injury civil claim to recover the financial compensation you deserve.

California and U.S. Self-Driving Car Accident Statistics for 2023

A recent report from the California Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) confirms that as of June 16, 2023, 612 autonomous vehicle collisions have been recorded in the Golden State. However, as the California DMV notes, self-driving car accident reports which occurred prior to January 1, 2019 have been archived and may not be included in that total figure.

Some additional U.S. self-driving car accident statistics include:

  • In 2022, nearly 400 (392) self-driving car accidents were recorded over an 11 month period.
  • 273 of those 392 autonomous vehicle collisions involved Teslas (accounting for roughly 70%).
  • The Tesla crashes happened while vehicles were using the following technology:
    • Autopilot
    • Full Self-Driving
    • Traffic Aware Cruise Control
    • Other driver-assist systems that have some control over speed and steering
  • Tesla had about 830,000 vehicles with the systems on the road as of June 2022, but that number is believed to be larger today.

Self-Driving Fatal Car Accident Statistics for 2023

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) released a report last year detailing 11 deaths which occurred over a four month period in 2022 as a result of self-driving crashes.

The following fatal self-driving accident statistics were confirmed by the NHTSA:

  • 10 of the 11 deaths involved vehicles made by Tesla
  • The 11th death involved a Ford pickup
  • The self-driving car accident deaths included four crashes involving motorcycles that occurred during the spring and summer of 2022:
    • Two in Florida
    • One in California
    • One in Utah

The NHTSA’s data did not indicate whether the autonomous technology itself was at fault or whether driver error might have been responsible for the deadly crashes.

Fully Autonomous Vehicle Crash Statistics for 2023

25 companies are reported to be currently running fully autonomous vehicles. In total, 130 fully autonomous vehicle crashes were recorded in 2022.

The breakdown of those 130 fully self-driving car accidents includes:

  • Google spinoff Waymo recorded 62 crashes
  • Transdev Alternative Services recorded 34 crashes
  • General Motors-controlled Cruise LLC recorded 23 crashes

Waymo, the autonomous vehicle unit of Alphabet Inc., confirmed to the NHTSA that it had more than 700 autonomous vehicles in its fleet as of 2022.

What are the 5 Levels of Self-Driving Technology?

Self-driving vehicles are broken down into automation levels. According to the NHTSA, self-driving vehicle technology is classified as follows:

  • Level 0: Momentary driver assistance which provides options such as warnings and alerts, or emergency safety interventions while the driver remains fully engaged and attentive.
  • Level 1: Driver technology which provides continuous assistance with either acceleration/braking or steering, while the driver remains fully engaged and attentive.
  • Level 2: Driver technology which continuous assistance with both acceleration/braking AND steering while the driver remains fully engaged and attentive.
  • Level 3: Conditional automation technology which, when engaged, entails a system that handles all aspects of the driving task while you, as the driver, are available to take over driving if requested. If the system can no longer operate and prompts the driver, the driver must be available to resume all aspects of the driving task.
  • Level 4: High automation technology which handles all driving tasks while you, now the passenger, are not needed to maneuver the vehicle. The system can only operate the vehicle in limited service areas, not universally. A human driver is not needed to operate the vehicle.
  • Level 5: Full automation technology which handles all driving tasks while you, now the passenger, are not needed to maneuver the vehicle. The system can operate the vehicle universally – under all conditions and on all roadways. Moreover, a human driver is not needed to operate the vehicle.

Benefits of Self-Driving Cars and Technology

A person holds a tablet in a car with digital icons representing self-driving technology; text reads “Benefits of Self-Driving Cars and Technology.”.

The NHTSA offers the following current benefits (and potential future benefits) for self-driving cars:

  • Increased safety
  • Remove the human driver from the chain of events that can lead to a crash
  • Active safety systems or advanced driver assistance systems which provide lower levels of automation that can assist a driver by anticipating imminent dangers and working to avoid them
  • Collective technologies will help protect drivers and passengers (as well as bicyclists and pedestrians)
  • Increase mobility for seniors and people with disabilities and expand transportation options for underrepresented communities.
  • Could deliver additional economic and societal benefits. A NHTSA study showed that motor vehicle crashes cost billions each year. Eliminating the majority of vehicle crashes through technology could reduce this cost.
  • Vehicle automation will potentially change the need for individualized parking spaces and lots, with increased use of automated ride share and shuttle fleets, which could dramatically transform land use.
  • Vehicle electrification opens up possibilities to improve efficiency with less personal driving, resulting in further reductions of air pollutants from the transport sector.
  • Automated driving systems have the potential to improve efficiency and convenience in terms of fuel costs and vehicle emissions.

For a full list of Dordulian Law Group’s (DLG) self-driving car benefits, please visit our recent blog.

Contact a Los Angeles Self-Driving Car Accident Lawyer Today for a Free Consultation

Self-driving car accidents occur every day, and some of the most common scenarios and statistics related to these common types of crashes include:

  • The most common accident scenario involving self-driving cars is a rear-end collision, according to recent self-driving car statistics.
  • Uber’s self-driving cars require the most human intervention.
  • The more complicated the route a self-driving or autonomous vehicle follows, the better machine’s self-driving system becomes.

And studies indicate that Americans have yet to fully embrace self-driving technology in an effort to improve car accident safety:

  • According to one survey, 56% of Americans wouldn’t feel safe in a driverless vehicle.
  • 76% of Americans want Congress to have brakes installed in driverless cars.

DLG’s experienced and proven car accident attorneys are standing by 24/7 to answer any questions you have about recovering maximum financial compensation for your injury. You have everything to gain by protecting your rights and sitting down with a DLG car accident lawyer for a free consultation. We’re here to fight on your behalf and ensure that the car insurance companies don’t leave you with unpaid medical bills, lost wages, and more.

To arrange for a free and confidential self-driving car accident lawyer consultation on your own time, contact us today by calling 866-GO-SEE-SAM. We will work according to your schedule and are dedicated to fighting aggressively to secure justice and maximum financial compensation for your car accident injury claim.

Ready to file a claim and pursue justice through a financial damages award? Our expert attorneys are available online or by phone now.

With over $200,000,000.00 in settlements and verdicts secured for clients like you while maintaining a 98% winning record, DLG’s car accident lawyers are the best choice you can make after suffering a motor vehicle injury.

Contact us today at 866-GO-SEE-SAM to take the first step toward justice.

Author

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Sam Dordulian, founder

Sam Dordulian is an award-winning sexual abuse lawyer with over 25 years’ experience helping survivors secure justice. As a former sex crimes prosecutor and Deputy District Attorney for L.A. County, he secured life sentences against countless sexual predators. Mr. Dordulian currently serves on the National Leadership Council for RAINN.
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