Sprains, pain, and whiplash: Waymo and Zoox test drivers are getting hurt as robotaxis scale

As Waymo and Zoox expand the deployment of their robotaxis, test drivers for these autonomous vehicles are suffering injuries linked to hard braking and sudden movements from the self-driving systems. In 2024 and 2025, over two dozen injuries were reported to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) by Waymo and Zoox.

Transdev, which manages Waymo's test drivers in three cities, reported 16 injuries tied to Waymo depot locations, while Zoox reported up to eight injuries related to hard braking incidents. These injuries include sprains, strains, whiplash, and more, with some test drivers sidelined for weeks or months. OSHA only requires establishments with 100 or more employees in these industries to report such incidents, meaning injuries in newer cities might not be captured in the data.

Zoox contractors have reported that the company's self-driving system continues to brake hard and abruptly as recently as July, with workers still getting hurt. Waymo and Zoox have declined to provide specific details on the injuries reported last year, stating they follow necessary reporting requirements and take injuries seriously.

However, one former Zoox contractor claims that the company's test fleet vehicles are still experiencing hard braking incidents as late as July. Hard braking incidents can occur multiple times during a single test drive and can happen at any speed, with higher-velocity instances typically having a more significant impact on the driver.

These incidents often result when the autonomous driving system detects or mistakenly detects debris on the road. In some cases, these hard braking events can lead to severe injuries, with some workers requiring months away from work to recover.