As Austin welcomes autonomous vehicles from Tesla and Waymo onto its streets, the promise of safer, more efficient transportation has captured residents' attention. But experts warn that the technology’s rapid expansion may be outpacing public awareness — and, in some cases, public safety.
A 2023 report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration linked Tesla’s Autopilot system to over 800 crashes nationwide, including at least 19 fatalities since 2021. While Waymo's fully autonomous systems have a cleaner record, they’ve also drawn scrutiny after incidents such as a collision in Arizona involving a pedestrian and an automated vehicle.
Here in Travis County, a jury awarded $3.167 million to resident Austin Arnold after a 2018 golf cart crash caused by a GPS-controlled system on a local resort course. Handled by the Melendez Law Firm, this case resulted in the largest golf cart negligence injury award in Texas history. It showcased a wider concern: Even low-speed vehicles pose significant risks when automation is poorly managed.
“I was just going downhill when something went wrong with the newly updated GPS. The automated system thought I was out of bounds or not in the regulated zone,” Arnold said. “The cart suddenly slowed, and I lost control. It flipped over and broke my back.”
The incident left him with lasting injuries and lifelong complications.
“I’ve just never been the same,” he said. “I was 35 when it happened, and now I deal with back pain every day — I’ll be dealing with this the rest of my life.”
As traffic congestion intensifies across Austin, particularly in high-risk zones like the I-35 corridor, where crash rates have risen 22%, local attorneys say the public must understand the limitations of driver-assistance technologies.
“Many people assume these systems are foolproof, but they’re not,” said a representative from the Melendez Law Firm. “Our job is to hold companies accountable when that technology fails.”
Arnold hopes his case sparks awareness. “This is the way of the future,” he said. “But this technology has to be dialed in before it’s released to the public. You can’t just put people at risk to be first to market.”
Consumers are encouraged to stay informed, ask questions when using automated transport services and report malfunctions. Legal teams with technological and legal expertise may be essential for those injured by automation failures.
As self-driving vehicles continue to reshape Austin’s roads, residents must stay vigilant. The convenience of automation shouldn’t come at the cost of safety.
- In Texas alone, 370+ tech-related crashes have been reported since 2019
- Buckle up in all vehicles, including robotaxis and golf carts
- Tesla vehicles account for over 50% of U.S. tech-assisted crash reports
- Austin ranks #4 nationwide for autonomous vehicle incidents
- Crash rates in the I-35 construction zone jumped 22%