A recent study from Southern Methodist University has found that fully autonomous vehicles could potentially reduce traffic delays in the Dallas-Fort Worth area by as much as 33 percent, all without the need for new highway lanes.
This research, led by Khaled Abdelghany at SMU's Stephanie and Hunter Hunt Institute for Engineering and Humanity, involved traffic modeling funded in part by the region's council of governments.
The study utilized 25 different traffic simulations to evaluate scenarios with varying levels of driverless vehicle adoption, including 100 percent, 50 percent, and 25 percent, compared to a baseline with no autonomous vehicles. The findings showed that in the scenario with complete automation, delays could decrease significantly, and the time spent in traffic could drop by at least 19 percent.
The underlying reason for this reduction is that human drivers often create traffic jams through inconsistent driving patterns. According to Abdelghany, autonomous vehicles could help alleviate these issues by enabling smoother and more coordinated driving.
In terms of current developments, Texas has emerged as a leader in the implementation of driverless freight transportation. Aurora Innovation initiated commercial driverless deliveries along the I-45 corridor between Dallas and Houston in April 2025, marking the first such service in the United States. These trucks operate without a human driver on board, monitored remotely while transporting various goods.
The choice of the I-45 corridor is strategic, as it handles nearly half of Texas's truck freight. Aurora has also expanded its operations to include a second route from Fort Worth to El Paso and plans to deploy hundreds of autonomous trucks.
Other companies, including Kodiak Robotics and Waymo Via, are also advancing autonomous trucking in Texas, solidifying the state's position as a hub for this industry.
On the passenger side, Waymo has been providing a paid robotaxi service in Austin and has recently opened its services to select riders in Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio, with plans for broader availability by the end of the year.
While the growth of driverless technology raises questions about job displacement, the industry suggests that many roles will evolve rather than vanish. Positions such as technicians for vehicle maintenance, remote operators, and logistics staff will still be necessary. Industry estimates predict that autonomous vehicles could contribute around $70 billion to the U.S. GDP and generate approximately 9 million jobs globally by 2030.
