Robotaxis may be driving themselves, but it's the humans inside who are feeling the impact. A TechCrunch review of federal workplace-safety data found more than two dozen injuries from 2024 to 2025 among test drivers working with Alphabet's Waymo and Amazon-owned Zoox, largely tied to sudden braking or other abrupt moves by the autonomous vehicles. The reports describe sprains, strains, whiplash, and other musculoskeletal injuries, with some drivers off the job for weeks or months. Transdev, the contractor that employs Waymo's test drivers, logged 16 injuries at Waymo depots across San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Phoenix; Zoox reported up to eight similar cases.
The incidents appear as the companies rapidly expand robotaxi operations and rack up test miles. OSHA data and worker interviews describe vehicles that "braked harshly" or made "exaggerated" stops, sometimes with no clear obstacle, and in Zoox's case, sudden "nogos"—system shutdowns that trigger forceful braking at speed. Both companies say they comply with reporting rules and prioritize safety; Waymo declined to discuss specific cases, and Zoox called hard braking sometimes unavoidable and rare relative to miles driven. Because of OSHA disclosure thresholds, the true number of test-driver injuries across the industry is likely higher and largely invisible. For more, including what might be behind the sudden stops, read the full investigation at TechCrunch.
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