Waymo data reveals that the cars spend close to half of their time 'deadheading' — driving around with no passengers.
Like ridesharing, robotaxi companies promised that their services would reduce urban traffic congestion. And like ridesharing, data indicates that the industry did not keep this promise.
As Jonathan M. Gitlin explains in Ars Technica, a study published in MIT's Transport Findings shows that between 2021 and 2025 Waymo robotaxis spent between 36% and 56% of their time driving empty, a practice known as "headheading."
According to Gitlin, "A similar analysis conducted late last year on Waymo’s CPUC data from January 2024 through September 2025 by Matthew Raifman, who studies policy and autonomous vehicles at UC Berkeley, also found that 44 percent of Waymo’s miles were driven with empty vehicles and that two-thirds of those empty miles were robotaxis driving around waiting to be assigned a customer."
The numbers are similar in the ridesharing industry, "suggesting there’s little difference in congestion whether there’s a human behind the wheel or not."
Read the full story: Autonomous vehicles were supposed to cut traffic—what if they don’t?
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A Mississippi agency also responds after a federal judge criticized the state’s Clean Air Act enforcement.
Housing is the top priority of Seattle’s sole new councilmember
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FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
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City of Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS)
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
City of Cambridge
Montrose County
The Pocatello Development Authority