A study conducted by Southern Methodist University suggests that fully autonomous vehicles could reduce traffic delays in the Dallas-Fort Worth region by as much as 33 percent, without the need for additional highway lanes. This research highlights Texas's proactive approach to developing the driverless vehicle industry, with commercial routes already operational.
The research, led by Khaled Abdelghany from SMU's engineering institute, utilized traffic modeling funded in part by the region's council of governments. The study involved 25 experiments that simulated traffic conditions in 2045, examining scenarios with varying levels of autonomous vehicle adoption.
In the scenario where all vehicles were autonomous, delays dropped by up to 33 percent, while time spent in congested traffic decreased by at least 19 percent.
The underlying reason for these improvements lies in the driving patterns of human operators. Human drivers often create traffic jams through inconsistent braking and spacing, which can cause ripple effects throughout traffic. According to Abdelghany, autonomous vehicles could alleviate these issues by enabling smoother and more synchronized driving.
Dallas was ranked as the 17th most congested city in the United States in 2024, with drivers losing approximately 36 hours annually to traffic delays. As Texas emerges as a leader in the driverless vehicle sector, it is already witnessing advancements in freight transportation. Aurora Innovation initiated commercial driverless deliveries between Dallas and Houston in April 2025, marking the first such service in the nation.
These trucks operate along the I-45 corridor, which is a major freight route in Texas.
Other companies, including Kodiak Robotics, Waymo Via, Gatik, Plus, and Waabi, are also developing autonomous trucking operations in Texas, solidifying the state's position as a hub for this technology. On the passenger side, Waymo has been running a paid robotaxi service in Austin and expanded its offerings to select riders in Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio in February 2026.
While the rise of driverless vehicles raises questions about job displacement, experts indicate that the nature of work will evolve rather than disappear. Positions will still be needed for vehicle maintenance, remote monitoring, and logistics, among others. Industry estimates suggest that autonomous vehicles could contribute around $70 billion to the U.S. GDP and generate approximately 9 million jobs globally by 2030.
However, the 33 percent reduction in traffic delays is contingent upon full adoption of autonomous vehicles, which is not expected in the near term. The study’s projections are based on ideal conditions, and other research indicates that many autonomous vehicle hours occur without passengers, which could counteract congestion benefits. Safety concerns also persist, particularly regarding accidents involving driverless vehicles.
