Sprains, pain, and whiplash: Waymo and Zoox test drivers are getting hurt as robotaxis scale
Robotaxi testing by Waymo and Zoox has led to more than two dozen reported worker injuries in 2024 and 2025, including sprains, strains, pain and whiplash caused by abrupt braking or swerving. The reports highlight the human risks faced by safety and test drivers as autonomous vehicle companies rapidly expand testing and commercial operations.
Transdev, which manages Waymo’s test drivers, reported 16 software-linked injuries at depots in three cities, while Zoox reported up to eight injuries associated with hard braking. OSHA disclosure rules may leave other incidents unreported, and current and former Zoox contractors say sudden braking and worker injuries continued as recently as July; both companies said safety is important, while Zoox said such incidents were rare relative to its fleet’s millions of test miles.
- Robotaxi test drivers reported injuries from sudden vehicle movements.
- Waymo-linked operations reported 16 injuries; Zoox reported up to eight.
- Limited OSHA disclosure rules may understate the total.
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Robotaxis are cars designed to drive themselves using cameras, sensors and software. Waymo and Zoox are companies developing this technology and operating test vehicles, with human safety or test drivers on board or nearby to monitor the cars and respond when needed.
As the companies expand their fleets and testing, workers can be exposed to sudden changes in how the vehicles move, including hard braking or swerving. Injury reports and workplace safety rules help show some of the risks involved, though they may not capture every incident; the companies say safety is important, and Zoox says reported incidents were rare compared with its test mileage.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
As robotaxis expand, companies have a responsibility to protect the workers who test and monitor them, and reports of injuries linked to abrupt manoeuvres raise reasonable questions about whether safeguards and working practices are keeping pace. Even if reported cases are few, injuries and possible gaps in disclosure can justify closer scrutiny and stronger reporting, so risks are not overlooked during commercial growth.
The case against
Testing is a necessary part of developing autonomous vehicles, and occasional hard braking or swerving may occur while systems respond to hazards on the road. The companies can reasonably argue that reported injuries should be judged against the scale of their fleets and test mileage, and that incidents described as rare do not by themselves show that testing is unacceptably unsafe or that expansion should stop.