The expansion of autonomous vehicles is facing a new challenge. Drivers responsible for testing Zoox and Waymo robotaxis suffered more than two dozen injuries during 2024 and 2025, according to data reviewed from workplace injury reports.
The incidents were not necessarily linked to crashes. Some of the main causes included sudden braking and unexpected vehicle movements, which resulted in injuries such as sprains, muscle pain, and whiplash among some workers.
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The situation is drawing attention to the testing phase that companies still need before expanding their autonomous services. Zoox, which is owned by Amazon, has recently accelerated its expansion and began offering commercial rides in Las Vegas while continuing to develop and evaluate its technology.
Why are test drivers still necessary?
Although these vehicles can operate autonomously, test drivers supervise their behavior and help identify situations that could pose risks before new features are approved.
Zoox says safety remains a central part of its development process and that it uses road testing, simulations, and different evaluation systems before approving new versions of its technology.
