Entertainment
Can Waymo reduce Americas shocking number of road deaths?
Now operating in cities like L.A., San Francisco, Phoenix, Austin, and Atlanta, the robotaxis of Waymo have driven nearly 57 million miles, according to the autonomous vehicle company. With all those miles under its (timing) belt, the Alphabet-owned operation recently released a research paper highlighting some impressive data.
Waymo’s report centered on incidents between its vehicles and “vulnerable road users.” Compared to human drivers, Waymo’s self-driving, electric Jaguars encountered 92 percent fewer crashes with pedestrians that resulted in injuries, 82 percent fewer crashes with cyclists involving injuries, and 82 percent fewer crashes with injuries that involved motorcyclists. There was also good news for car-to-car crashes, with 96 percent fewer injury-involving intersection crashes among Waymos, compared to human drivers, and 85 percent fewer crashes with suspected serious or worse injuries.
“It’s encouraging to see real-world data showing Waymo outperforming human drivers when it comes to safety,” Jonathan Adkins, Chief Executive Officer at the nonprofit Governors Highway Safety Administration, said in Waymo’s press release. “Fewer crashes and fewer injuries — especially for people walking and biking — is exactly the kind of progress we want to see from autonomous vehicles.”
With Waymo planning additional service in Washington, D.C., Miami, and Tokyo, can we expect further progress in road safety in the cities Waymo operates in? Possibly, says David Kidd, the Senior Research Scientist at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. While Waymo has demonstrated its individual cars are often safer than human drivers, the company’s service is not ubiquitous enough to show that it makes a city’s entire road network safer, Kidd tells Mashable. Waymo’s effective technology and positive safety record are good signs that we may get there one day, Kidd adds.
What are your takeaways from Waymo’s recent safety report?
Kidd: Waymo has done several of these reports, and they have been diligent about being very transparent about the methods they used to get the data they have. They’ve built on and expanded on previous [reports]. This is … the most comprehensive look of the safety of their AVs to date, and the results are really encouraging.
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Compared to other AV efforts from Tesla and General Motors’ Cruise, Waymo seems to be finding the most success. Why?
I can’t speak to Waymo’s strategy and philosophy and the differences between Waymo and Cruise and other AV companies, but certainly what stands out is Waymo is making a concerted effort to do research demonstrating the safety of the vehicles on real roads and being public about it. So they publish the research, and they also are now putting information about crashes and exposure, or millions driven in different deployment areas, on their website so anyone can go and replicate what they’ve done or do their own analyses. No other company is doing that right now, and it’s something we would hope other companies would follow Waymo’s lead in and be transparent.
The number of pedestrians and cyclists killed by cars has been steadily climbing for years. Can Waymo make the argument that they can help reduce those numbers?
Crashes with pedestrians have been increasing since 2009; I think there’s been an 83 percent increase in fatal pedestrian crashes since that year (Kidd is referencing a report from 2022, showing a 40-year high for pedestrians killed by cars). And it certainly is the case that these automated vehicles are really good at keeping themselves from getting into conflicts with pedestrians, as this study provides evidence for; it’s going to help with the issue. The caveat is that AVs are not deployed everywhere, they’re certainly not in everyone’s driveway and not accessible to everyone so if we’re really going to tackle that pedestrian crash problem, it’s going to take multiple types of counter measures and solutions ranging from the technology in cars we can buy today like pedestrian automatic braking, changes in infrastructure that reduces conflicts between pedestrians and vehicles, as well as changing things that can make drivers more aware, as well as pedestrians aware, of their surroundings and pay more attention to distracted driving and distracted walking.
Robot, take the wheel: What you need to know about autonomous vehicles rolling out across the U.S.
Since consumers cannot buy their own AVs yet, will we see significant decreases in crash deaths when automated cars are only available on a rideshare basis?
The natural extension of what Waymo has done is to better understand how the deploying of their vehicles inside of a city or inside a transportation network affects the overall safety of that network. They’ve done a good job of showing several times that their vehicles crash less often and are involved in fewer crashes than humans in that same deployment area. What they need to show is, if they have 100 Waymo vehicles or 1,000 Waymo vehicles, then is the transportation system in that area safer for everyone? That’s kind of the next piece — do we get shared safety benefits?
Waymo really demonstrated they can develop a technology and algorithms that take sensor information and make the vehicle operate safely. Can we take some of those learnings and improvements and apply them to the technology in vehicles you and I can buy? There’s a rumor they are potentially collaborating with Toyota; hopefully that’s one thing that comes out of it — Waymo takes their gains and algorithms and software and what they’ve done in the self-driving arena and apply it and translate it into the safety technology that Toyota and other automakers put into the vehicles that are sold to consumers today. That’s where I think you’ll see more rapid advances where the AVs advance conventional vehicles.
Tell us more about how AV technology can help all cars be safer.
Some of the more proactive things are when you’re approaching an intersection and the vehicle is able to see that there are other cars coming and make a prediction that some other vehicles are going to cross your path and not going to stop — it’ll slow you down to avoid the conflict.
AVs can illustrate the potential and some reasons why human drivers slip in terms of behavior and the way they operate vehicles and why they get in crashes. It’s not anything that’s unknown to us right now. The biggest contributor to crash deaths, and have been perpetual really, is speeding, impairment, like alcohol impairment, distractions is another component, but really speeding and impairment are huge and automated vehicles follow laws; they don’t speed and they’re not impaired. That alone is going to eliminate a lot of deaths.
Entertainment
Wordle today: Answer, hints for March 1, 2026
Today’s Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you believe in coincidences.
If you just want to be told today’s word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today’s Wordle solution revealed. But if you’d rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
Where did Wordle come from?
Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once.
Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.
What’s the best Wordle starting word?
The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.
What happened to the Wordle archive?
The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website’s creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.
Is Wordle getting harder?
It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn’t any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle‘s Hard Mode if you’re after more of a challenge, though.
Here’s a subtle hint for today’s Wordle answer:
A coincidence.
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Does today’s Wordle answer have a double letter?
There are no recurring letters.
Today’s Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with…
Today’s Wordle starts with the letter F.
The Wordle answer today is…
Get your last guesses in now, because it’s your final chance to solve today’s Wordle before we reveal the solution.
Drumroll please!
The solution to today’s Wordle is…
FLUKE
Don’t feel down if you didn’t manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we’ll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints. Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today’s Strands.
Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.
If you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you’re after? Here’s the solution to yesterday’s Wordle.
Entertainment
How to watch Zimbabwe vs. South Africa in the 2026 T20 World Cup online for free
TL;DR: Live stream Zimbabwe vs. South Africa in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 for free on ICC.TV. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
The 2026 T20 World Cup action this weekend is absolutely electric. A lot of fans will be tuning into the huge clash between India and West Indies later today, but for an exciting warm up, Zimbabwe face off against South Africa.
Zimbabwe did well to make this stage of the competition, but they’ve lost both their games in the second group stage. South Africa have looked formidable, and will want to continue their run of wins before the semi finals. Expect an action-packed contest between two talented sides.
If you want to watch Zimbabwe vs. South Africa in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
When is Zimbabwe vs. South Africa?
Zimbabwe vs. South Africa in the 2026 T20 World Cup starts at 4:30 a.m. ET on March 1. This game takes place at the Arun Jaitley Cricket Stadium.
How to watch Zimbabwe vs. South Africa for free
Zimbabwe vs. South Africa in the 2026 T20 Cricket World Cup is available to live stream for free on ICC.TV.
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This free live stream on ICC.TV is only available in select regions (see full list of territories here), but anyone can live stream the T20 Cricket World Cup for free with a VPN. These helpful tools can hide your IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in a location with free access. This simple process bypasses geo-restrictions so you can live stream on ICC.TV from anywhere in the world.
Live stream Zimbabwe vs. South Africa in the 2026 T20 Cricket World Cup for free by following these simple steps:
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Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
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Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
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Open up the app and connect to a server in a location with access
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Visit ICC.TV
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Watch the 2026 T20 Cricket World Cup for free from anywhere in the world
$12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee)
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to free live streams without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch every game from the 2026 T20 Cricket World Cup before recovering your investment.
If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming platforms from around the world, you’ll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for live sport is on sale for a limited time.
What is the best VPN for ICC.TV?
ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on ICC.TV, for a number of reasons:
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Servers in 105 countries
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Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
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Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure
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Fast connection speeds
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Up to 10 simultaneous connections
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30-day money-back guarantee
A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).
Watch the 2026 T20 World Cup for free with ExpressVPN.
Entertainment
Hurdle hints and answers for March 1, 2026
If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.
There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it’ll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.
An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.
If you find yourself stuck at any step of today’s Hurdle, don’t worry! We have you covered.
Hurdle Word 1 hint
Mixed metals.
Hurdle Word 1 answer
ALLOY
Hurdle Word 2 hint
A popular board game.
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Hurdle Word 2 Answer
CHESS
Hurdle Word 3 hint
The edge of the beach.
Hurdle Word 3 answer
COAST
Hurdle Word 4 hint
Milk-based.
Hurdle Word 4 answer
DAIRY
Final Hurdle hint
A Spanish character.
Hurdle Word 5 answer
TILDE
If you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
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