Waymo CEO Claims Public Will “Accept” Driverless Car Fatalities

Tekedra Mawakana, the co-CEO of Waymo, has made a controversial statement regarding public acceptance of potential fatalities involving driverless vehicles. Her comments follow an incident in which a self-driving car operated by Waymo tragically struck and killed a cherished local cat.

As driverless taxis become increasingly prevalent throughout the United States—such as Tesla’s robotic taxis being piloted in Texas, Amazon’s Zoox taxis debuting in Las Vegas, and Waymo’s expansion from the West to the East Coast—the technology continues to face challenges. Incidents involving these autonomous vehicles, including a notable case where passengers were discharged in the middle of busy traffic and reports of Waymo cars running red lights or causing disturbances by honking incessantly, raise serious safety concerns.

Waymo’s Vision for the Future of Autonomous Transportation

When questioned by Kirsten Korosec, a transportation editor at TechCrunch, about the broader societal implications of a driverless vehicle causing human fatalities, Mawakana expressed confidence in public acceptance of such scenarios. She stated, “I think that society will [accept it].The key is to ensure that we maintain high standards for safety.”

Mawakana emphasized the importance of transparency among companies operating autonomous vehicles. She believes that these companies should consistently publish data reflecting their safety records and the frequency of collisions involving their vehicles.“We cannot guarantee perfection, but we must be accountable for our safety measures, ” she remarked.

The CEO of Waymo is asked: “Will society accept a death potentially caused by a robot?”She responds: “I think that society will.”pic.twitter.com/ZXRj2MsZea

— More Perfect Union (@MorePerfectUS) October 29, 2025

While acknowledging that there is no acceptable level of fatalities involving autonomous vehicles, Mawakana pointed out that human drivers already contribute to numerous collisions as evidence of the complexities involved in ensuring road safety.

In the wake of the incident involving KitKat, the beloved cat, Waymo pledged to donate to a local animal rights organization in San Francisco as a gesture of goodwill. A spokesperson for the company stated, “The trust and safety of the communities we serve is our highest priority, ” according to a report from KRON4.

Despite these efforts, the community expressed their anger and disappointment regarding the cat’s death, with many residents labeling the incident as “disgusting.” One local shared their frustration, stating, “I’ve known multiple people who have been hit by those vehicles, myself included, and I just find it outrageous that this is how KitKat met her end.”

Source & Images