Autonomous Vehicles Provide Safety Benefits

  • As most car crashes result from human error, autonomous vehicles (AVs), equipped with 360-degree view cameras, have the potential to dramatically reduce fatalities associated with driving. 
  • AVs eliminate the risk of assault or coercion by rideshare drivers, which is reported at an alarming rate: once every eight minutes.
  • A 2025 peer-reviewed study of a self-driving, ride-hailing service called Waymo found the use of Waymo’s vehicles reduced crashes by 80% compared with human drivers on the same streets.

Further AV Innovation Will Help Women

  • The benefits of autonomous vehicle technology extend beyond physical safety. For many American women, access to reliable, safe transportation is directly tied to economic participation, caregiving responsibilities, and quality of life.
  • AVs could enhance life for women by dramatically expanding mobility for women in underserved communities without access to personal vehicles, busy mothers running multiple errands and juggling child care, older women who can no longer safely drive, and women with disabilities for whom traditional transportation options remain inadequate.
  • Studies show that older adults trust this technology and would be willing to use AV transportation if given the opportunity.  

Important AV Questions and Concerns Must Be Answered

  • Critical questions concerning AV use remain, including who bears the burden of vehicle accidents involving AVs. Power outages, creating street chaos due to stalled AVs, and AV collisions have revealed the limitations of AVs and the legal issue of attributing liability.
  • For policymakers considering whether to allow AV operation within their borders, a challenge is balancing risk prevention and innovation. Resolving this tension enables society to realize the full benefits of AVs and transform driving for the better. 
  • Expansion of the AV industry could have broad implications for the U.S. workforce, with the potential to eliminate five million jobs.

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