New Data Debunks Myths About Driverless Cars
The headlines scream about "robot cars running people over," but the real story of autonomous vehicles (AVs) is one of safety, efficiency, and game-changing mobility. In Arizona, where a free-market approach has turned the state into America’s AV hub, driverless taxis aren’t futuristic experiments—they’re everyday transportation. A new Goldwater Institute report, Autonomous Vehicles Thrive in Arizona’s Free-Market Fast Lane<https://www.goldwaterinstitute.org/policy-report/autonomous-vehicles-thrive-in-arizonas-free-market-fast-lane/>, reveals how Arizona’s light-touch regulation has enabled AVs to log over 20 million rider-only miles—with fewer crashes than human drivers. The data is clear: ✅ 81% fewer airbag deployments ✅ 78% fewer injury-causing crashes ✅ 62% fewer police-reported crashes And it’s not just about safer roads. AVs are revolutionizing mobility for elderly and disabled riders while unlocking massive economic potential. Unlike human drivers, AVs don’t get tired, distracted, or impaired—meaning fewer crashes and a more reliable transportation network. Yet while Arizona embraces the future, other states are slamming the brakes. Burdensome "driver in" laws and city-level red tape threaten to stifle innovation and send AV companies packing. The question for policymakers is simple: regulate for yesterday, or innovate for tomorrow? Arizona’s success story shows what’s possible when freedom beats bureaucracy. Want to talk about the report’s findings? Please email me at jsetyon@goldwaterinstitute.org<mailto:jsetyon@goldwaterinstitute.org> or call/text 917-685-4530 to arrange an interview. Read the report here<https://www.goldwaterinstitute.org/policy-report/autonomous-vehicles-thrive-in-arizonas-free-market-fast-lane/>, and read our news release here<https://www.goldwaterinstitute.org/how-arizona-is-driving-the-future-with-driverless-cars/> or below. Thanks! Joe (If you do not wish to receive further communications, please reply to this email with UNSUBSCRIBE.) -- How Arizona Is Driving the Future with Driverless Cars<https://www.goldwaterinstitute.org/how-arizona-is-driving-the-future-with-driverless-cars/> April 1, 2025 If you want to see the future of transportation, head to Phoenix. You’ll witness a quiet revolution underway: Autonomous vehicles—absent any human driver—navigate the city streets and highways with precision. These aren’t test runs. They’re successful businesses taking real paying riders where they want to go. In Arizona, driverless ride-hailing is an ordinary reality thanks to a regulatory model that prioritizes freedom and innovation over bureaucratic control. This is the Arizona model, which has created the most successful autonomous vehicle state in the country, according to the Goldwater Institute’s latest report<https://www.goldwaterinstitute.org/policy-report/autonomous-vehicles-thrive-in-arizonas-free-market-fast-lane/>, Autonomous Vehicles Thrive in Arizona’s Free-Market Fast Lane: State’s Model Sets Course for Future of Transportation Innovation. The potential upside is immense. In Arizona alone, one successful AV company has logged over 20 million miles of rider-only service as of September 2024. The results speak for themselves: 81% fewer airbag-deployment crashes, 78% fewer injury-causing crashes, and 62% fewer police-reported crashes compared to human drivers. The new report<https://www.goldwaterinstitute.org/policy-report/autonomous-vehicles-thrive-in-arizonas-free-market-fast-lane/> demonstrates how jurisdictional authority matters in creating a predictable environment that nurtures innovators. When new technologies or industries emerge, they can often succumb to the whims of state government rulemaking or a patchwork of regulations emanating from cities and towns. But when it comes to autonomous vehicles (AV), Arizonans have reaped the benefits of a state-based framework rooted in promoting freedom over burdensome red tape. The Grand Canyon State has pioneered a liberty-first framework for AV testing and deployment that has unleashed innovation in the marketplace and made the state a national leader in autonomous vehicles. The state’s leadership began with then-Governor Doug Ducey’s 2015 executive order, which was subsequently modernized in 2018 and codified into law by the legislature in 2021. Under this framework, AVs must meet federal safety standards, maintain insurance, and follow traffic laws—basic expectations that balance safety with scalability. Arizona’s Department of Transportation (ADOT) plays a focused, restrained role, intervening only when necessary and avoiding the mission creep that so often stifles innovation in other jurisdictions. The widespread adoption of autonomous vehicle technology presents a unique opportunity to drastically enhance road safety, provide better transportation options for elderly or disabled individuals, reduce traffic, and improve air quality, all while creating vast economic gains through improved efficiency in the shipping industry. Autonomous vehicles don’t get tired, drunk, or distracted. They are designed to eliminate the single greatest threat on the road: human error. But the promise of AVs extends beyond safe driving. For the elderly, the disabled, and millions of non-drivers, AVs represent the ability to overcome one of healthcare’s most persistent barriers: lack of transportation. Missed medical appointments cost the system billions annually and disproportionately harm those with disabilities. AVs, particularly when designed with accessibility in mind, offer a new level of independence—one where mobility is no longer a function of physical ability. Policymakers should adopt the freedom-oriented principles of “permissionless innovation<https://www.cato.org/cato-online-forum/embracing-culture-permissionless-innovation>�?? as their default and avoid erecting unnecessary regulatory barriers to AV innovation in order to reap the full benefits of this game-changing technology. And yet, some states are moving in the opposite direction. “Driver in�?? bills and city-level permitting schemes threaten to fragment the regulatory landscape, introducing uncertainty and compliance nightmares for companies operating across jurisdictions. These efforts, driven by special interests and speculative fears, ignore the clear benefits and real-world data accumulated from years of studying AV safety. Arizona’s experience offers a counterpoint—and a roadmap. States that follow the Arizona Model will not only attract investment and jobs, but also position themselves at the forefront of transportation’s next revolution. The choice facing lawmakers is simple: regulate for yesterday, or innovate for tomorrow. The roads of the future will see autonomous vehicles. And Arizona is already miles ahead. You can read the full report here<https://www.goldwaterinstitute.org/policy-report/autonomous-vehicles-thrive-in-arizonas-free-market-fast-lane/>. Joe Setyon Senior Communications Manager Goldwater Institute | www.GoldwaterInstitute.org<http://www.goldwaterinstitute.org/> | 602.462.5000 The Goldwater Institute accomplishes real results for liberty by working in state courts, legislatures, and communities nationwide to advance, defend, and strengthen the freedom guaranteed by the constitutions of the United States and the fifty states. ______________________ CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: The information contained in this message is privileged and confidential. It is intended only to be read by the individual or entity named above or their designee. Any distribution of this message by any person who is not the intended recipient is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, do not read it. Please immediately notify the sender and delete it. Thank you.