D.C. Withholds Autonomous Vehicle Crash Records as Council Weighs Rules
Washington, D.C., has a policy that blocks the release of autonomous vehicle crash reports through public records requests, and promised reports have not been published. Federal data lists 15 AV crashes in the city between July 2021 and August 2026. Waymo said it has recorded seven incidents since 2024, but only six appear in the federal database, and the city has not yet provided complete records before a council vote on allowing AVs.
D.C. blocks release of self-driving car crash reports through records requests, and promised reports remain unpublished. Federal data counts 15 AV crashes in the city from July 2021 to August 2026. Waymo says it logged seven incidents since 2024—three minor injuries, three property-damage cases—mostly when other drivers rear-ended its vehicles as they slowed, stopped, or yielded to emergency vehicles.
Only six of Waymo's seven appear in the federal database, which has a reporting threshold and may miss some events. Ward 6 Council member Charles Allen, transportation committee chair, says his AV bill would override the city's data-sharing ban and require regular incident disclosures.
The withheld records could shape how D.C. residents, council members, and AV firms judge safety before any vote on allowing driverless cars. Without fuller crash data, officials may struggle to set rules, while riders and pedestrians may have less information about road risks. Companies could face uneven oversight or public skepticism, and the outcome may influence whether autonomous services expand in the