SMRTR TechJun 3, 2026Ars Technica

Robotaxis don't cut traffic any more than ride-hailing, study finds

SMRTR summary

Robotaxis were supposed to ease traffic congestion, but a new MIT study finds they perform no better than Uber or Lyft in that regard. Analyzing Waymo's California data from 2023 to 2025, researchers found that nearly 44% of miles were driven with no passengers — called "deadheading" — meaning empty self-driving cars still clog roads, undermining one of the technology's key promised benefits.

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