Where Do Most Self-Driving Car Accidents Happen? Insights Into Self-Driving Car Collisions

The sight of a car rushing down the road without a driver is an image few of us have gotten used to. Based on recent statistics of self-driving car accidents, our skepticism may be warranted.

Self-driving cars promise a safer future, with fewer collisions caused by human error. Still, as autonomous vehicles become a growing presence on our roads, they reveal their own set of challenges. One pressing question on the minds of regulators, researchers, and consumers is: Where do most accidents involving self-driving cars happen? Knowing this can help us to reduce these incidents and discover the underlying causes of driverless car accidents.

At Morgan & Morgan, we’re dedicated to helping people understand the evolving legal and safety implications of autonomous vehicles. Let’s explore the locations, circumstances, and factors that contribute to self-driving car collisions—and what this means for you.

What Are the Common Causes of Self-Driving Car Accidents?

There were 1,450 self-driving car accidents in 2022, the most of any year so far. 10% of autonomous vehicle accidents have resulted in injury, and 2% have resulted in a fatality. 

Statistically, most self-driving car accidents are due to the fault of a human driver. This may lead you to conclude that—since the majority of accidents involving driverless cars are the fault of a human in another car—accidents with driverless cars occur less frequently than traditional accidents.

However, studies have shown that for every 1 million conventional vehicles on the road, 4.1 are involved in accidents compared to 9.1 driverless vehicles.

As of yet, we don’t know why human drivers are more likely to cause an accident with a self-driving car than with another human driver. More data needs to be collected and analyzed before we can understand how self-driving cars are affecting the safety of our roadways. But self-driving car manufacturers continue to insist their vehicles are safer than those driven by human drivers, who they claim are far more likely to cause accidents due to the ever-increasing prevalence of distracted driving.

Where Do Most Self-Driving Car Accidents Happen? 

In terms of areas with the most self-driving vehicle crash reports, California is the state with the most self-driving incidents, followed by Texas and Arizona respectively. This is primarily due to the mere fact that there are the most self-driving cars on the roads in these states, and many vehicle manufacturers even test their vehicles in these areas.

In terms of specific locations notorious for self-driving car accidents, most self-driving car accidents occur in environments where the complexity of driving conditions challenges the vehicle's systems. These environments often involve unpredictable variables such as human-driven vehicles, pedestrians, and rapidly changing conditions. Here’s a breakdown of the most common locations where self-driving car accidents tend to happen:

Urban Areas

• High Traffic Density: Self-driving cars frequently navigate urban streets filled with cars, bicycles, and pedestrians, which increases the likelihood of accidents.
• Complex Intersections: Many accidents happen at intersections where self-driving systems must interpret traffic signals, pedestrian crossings, and unpredictable driver behaviors.
• Pedestrian Zones: Busy areas with a high volume of foot traffic create challenges for detecting and reacting to sudden movements by people.

Highway Settings

• Merging Lanes: Accidents often occur when self-driving cars merge onto or off highways, especially if human-driven vehicles behave aggressively.
• Construction Zones: Temporary lane changes, unclear markings, and workers on the road can confuse the vehicle’s sensors and software.
• High Speeds: At highway speeds, even minor miscalculations can result in significant accidents, especially during lane changes or emergency braking situations.

Parking Lots

• Tight Spaces: Maneuvering in parking lots, with their narrow lanes and closely spaced vehicles, can challenge the accuracy of self-driving systems.
• Low-Speed Collisions: Although low in severity, parking lot accidents involving pedestrians or other vehicles are common.

Suburban Roads

• Unmarked Roads: Suburban streets without clear lane markings or consistent signage can confuse autonomous vehicles.
• Unpredictable Obstacles: Cyclists, children playing, or pets suddenly crossing the road can be hard for the system to anticipate.

Rural Areas

• Poor Road Conditions: Dirt roads, potholes, or uneven surfaces can disrupt sensor readings and vehicle stability.
• Limited Data: Self-driving systems often rely on detailed maps, which may not be available or up-to-date for rural areas.
• Wildlife Crossings: Encounters with animals like deer can lead to accidents due to delayed reactions.

Transition Zones

• Human-to-Autonomous Transitions: Locations where control shifts between the driver and the self-driving system, such as rest stops or traffic-heavy areas, are prone to accidents due to miscommunication or delays.

Poorly Maintained or Complex Infrastructure

• Old Bridges or Tunnels: Limited visibility and unusual structures can confuse the vehicle’s sensors.
• Roundabouts: The varying speeds and unpredictable entries or exits of other vehicles can challenge decision-making algorithms.

What Percentage of Self-Driving Car Collisions Occur at Intersections?

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), around 36% of all car crashes, including those involving self-driving cars, occur at intersections.

Intersections are considered a high-risk area for accidents in general, and a self-driving car can be all the more problematic within the chaos of turning, yielding, and other tricky maneuvers. These self-driving cars can face unique challenges at intersections due to the need to accurately interpret traffic signals, pedestrian behavior, and other vehicles' intentions.

Where Do Self-Driving Car Broadside Collisions Most Commonly Occur?

Self-driving car broadside collisions, often referred to as "T-bone" accidents, occur when one vehicle strikes the side of another, forming a "T" shape. These collisions are particularly dangerous and commonly occur in locations where self-driving systems must navigate complex interactions with other vehicles, pedestrians, and infrastructure. 

The most common scenarios and locations where such collisions happen include:

Intersections

As we already mentioned, intersections are the most common locations for broadside collisions involving self-driving cars. Sensor or software errors may cause a self-driving vehicle to misjudge the speed or distance of cross-traffic, or problems interpreting traffic lights or stop signs can result in the self-driving car entering an intersection at the wrong time.

Other drivers making left turns without a dedicated signal can often confuse automated car systems as well.

Parking Lots

While less severe, parking lot broadside collisions occur when a self-driving car misjudges the movement of nearby vehicles while pulling out of a parking space or turning. Tight spaces and obstructed views in parking lots can impair sensors and increase the likelihood of T-bone accidents.

Roundabouts

Self-driving cars may fail to properly yield to traffic already inside the roundabout, causing a collision with vehicles entering or exiting. Roundabouts are also often complex, with vehicles approaching from multiple angles, which can lead to errors in navigation or timing.

Merging or Exiting Highways

Broadside collisions can happen when self-driving cars merge onto or off highways, especially if they fail to anticipate cross-traffic at the base of exit ramps or entry points.

Private Roads and Driveways

Exiting driveways or private roads can lead to broadside collisions if the self-driving system fails to detect fast-moving vehicles on the main road. Private roads often lack proper signage or markings, which can confuse autonomous systems.

Construction Zones

Temporary traffic lights, detours, or flaggers in construction zones can lead to misunderstandings and broadside collisions. Erratic traffic patterns in these zones can also make it difficult for the self-driving car to accurately predict the actions of other vehicles.

Factors Contributing to Broadside Collisions

Several factors increase the likelihood of T-bone accidents in these locations:

• Sensor Blind Spots: Limitations in LiDAR, radar, or cameras can prevent the car from detecting vehicles approaching from the side.
• Aggressive or Unpredictable Human Drivers: The conservative driving behavior of self-driving cars can conflict with human drivers who fail to yield or speed through intersections.
• Adverse Weather Conditions: Rain, snow, or fog can impair sensor performance and contribute to misjudgments in navigation.
• Programming Errors: Software issues can cause delays in braking or acceleration when reacting to cross-traffic.

Are Self-Driving Car Manufacturers Misleading the Public?

The terms “driverless” and “fully self-driving” can be misleading, as no consumer vehicles on the road today are entirely autonomous. Even with advanced technology, human drivers must remain vigilant, ready to take control when the vehicle fails to respond appropriately to road conditions.

Tragically, several accidents involving Tesla vehicles have resulted in severe injuries and fatalities due to such failures. In one instance, a Tesla misjudged the road, collided with a brick wall, and caught fire, killing the driver.

Critics argue that part of the problem lies in how these cars are marketed. They claim that labeling vehicles as “fully self-driving” creates a false sense of security, leading consumers to overestimate the capabilities of the technology and place undue trust in it.

Who’s Liable for Self-Driving Car Accidents?

Being involved in an accident with a driverless car introduces unique challenges when pursuing compensation or legal action, as multiple parties may share responsibility.

In addition to filing a personal injury claim against the driver, you might also have grounds for a product liability lawsuit if a defect in the vehicle or its autonomous technology contributed to the accident.

Manufacturers can be held accountable for various types of defects, including:

• Manufacturing Defects: Flaws in the production process that render the product unsafe, even when used as intended.
• Design Defects: Issues with the product’s design that make it inherently dangerous, regardless of proper manufacturing.
• Failure to Warn: Inadequate warnings or instructions, leaving users unaware of risks associated with the product.

An experienced car accident attorney at Morgan & Morgan can thoroughly investigate your case, identify all liable parties, and work to secure the maximum compensation for your injuries. Hiring one of our lawyers is easy, and you can get started in minutes with a free case evaluation.