Report looks at Waymo vs pro drivers in New York

NYC must make a real comparison, Open Plans says

Autonomous for-hire vehicles, better known as robotaxis, are operational in cities across the globe. In New York City, Waymo received a permit to test their vehicles with a safety driver, which expired in March 2026. Robotaxi companies have spent millions of dollars in New York City and State lobbying for the legalization of robotaxis. 

Open Plans, a policy and advocacy research group, has published a report considering some of the implications of robotaxis.

A core question remains unanswered: how might robotaxis impact our streetscape in comparison to the professional for-hire vehicle drivers of taxis, Ubers, and Lyfts? In this report, Open Plans explores this question through the lenses of safety, vehicle miles traveled, and parking:

“Key Takeaways

1. Initial data shows that Waymo vehicles are involved in fewer injury-causing crashes overall, but have a significantly higher rate of crashes with a serious injury or fatality than the existing New York City for-hire fleet. 
   • Waymo compares their safety data to the average human driver, but New York City for hire vehicles are in serious or fatal crashes at a rate 14-times less than the average New York City vehicle. Comparing robotaxis to the for-hire fleet they would most likely replace is a better comparison. 
   • Waymo’s fleet has not yet driven enough miles to support that they are safer than for hire vehicle drivers. These initial severe crash metrics warrant significant caution and further scrutiny. This is especially relevant as robotaxi companies continue to push forward for full authorization in cities and states across the country, including New York.
2. As it stands, replacing a high-volume for-hire vehicle in New York City with a robotaxi would increase vehicle miles traveled and congestion. 
3. New York City’s constrained parking availability would likely dramatically increase Waymo’s miles driven empty if deployed in the city, leading to more traffic and wear on the streets.

Policy Recommendations

• Require robotaxi companies to compare their safety data to professional, for-hire vehicle drivers as a prerequisite to licensure to operate 
• Require data transparency from robotaxi companies in order to conduct critical analyses 
• Evaluate fees to adequately capture and reduce the impact of robotaxis on our streets 
• Stop centering single-use vehicles and consider how automated public transit can fill holes in our transit system 
• Consider limiting robotaxis’ ability to travel within dense, transit-rich commercial areas 
• Expand for-hire vehicle pick-up/drop-off zones
• Manage licensing and control deployment to prevent excessive robotaxi vehicle miles traveled growth”