A study conducted by researchers at Southern Methodist University indicates that fully autonomous vehicles could potentially reduce traffic delays in the Dallas-Fort Worth region by up to 33 percent, all without the need for additional highway lanes. This research is particularly relevant for Aubrey, located about 40 miles northeast of Dallas, as it highlights the potential benefits of autonomous technology in alleviating traffic issues.
The research was led by Khaled Abdelghany, a fellow at the university's engineering institute, in collaboration with the Texas A&M Transportation Institute. The study received partial funding and traffic modeling support from the regional council of governments.
Researchers simulated traffic conditions for the year 2045, testing various levels of autonomous vehicle adoption: 100 percent, 50 percent, and 25 percent, compared to a baseline scenario with no autonomous vehicles. The findings showed that in a fully automated scenario, traffic delays could be reduced by as much as 33 percent, while the time spent in congested traffic could decrease by at least 19 percent.
The underlying reason for these improvements is the ability of autonomous vehicles to drive more smoothly and consistently than human drivers, who often create traffic jams through erratic braking and inconsistent spacing. "Autonomous vehicles may help mitigate these effects through smoother and more coordinated driving," Abdelghany stated.
In terms of traffic congestion, a ranking in 2024 identified Dallas as the 17th most congested city in the United States, with drivers losing approximately 36 hours annually due to traffic delays.
Texas has already established itself as a leader in the development of autonomous vehicle technology. In late April 2025, Aurora Innovation began commercial driverless freight deliveries between Dallas and Houston, marking the first such service in the United States.
These trucks operate along the I-45 corridor, which is a critical route for freight transport in Texas, with nearly half of the state's truck freight moving between these two cities. Aurora has since expanded its operations to include a second route from Fort Worth to El Paso and plans to deploy hundreds of trucks in the future.
Other companies, including Kodiak Robotics, Waymo Via, Gatik, Plus, and Waabi, are also advancing autonomous trucking technologies in Texas, establishing the state as a central hub for this industry.
On the passenger side, Waymo has been operating a paid robotaxi service in Austin and began offering rides to select riders in Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio in February 2026, with plans for broader availability by the end of the year.
While the rise of driverless vehicles raises questions about job displacement, experts note that the industry will still require a workforce for various roles, including vehicle maintenance, fleet monitoring, and logistics. Industry estimates suggest that autonomous vehicles could contribute approximately $70 billion to the U.S. GDP and save consumers around $9 billion annually by 2030, largely due to safety and efficiency improvements.
