California’s legislators and labor unions are advocating for legal regulations that would significantly curtail the deployment of autonomous vehicles (AVs). This move comes at a time when the safety of self-driving vehicles has become a pressing issue, following a series of accidents involving the General Motors and Alphabet’s self-driving taxis.
Senator Dave Cortese, who is championing a bill to this effect, opined, “These incidents underscore the urgency for the enactment of new legislation.” The proposed bill, if passed, would grant cities the authority to issue AV permits and enforce AV laws – a function currently within the purview of state regulators alone. Furthermore, another legislation on the table stipulates that any self-driving vehicle weighing over 10,001 pounds must have a trained human driver at the helm. This category includes trucks.
State Assemblywoman Cecilia Aguiar-Curry described the proposed legislation as a “prudent step towards ensuring human presence in trucks until a comprehensive plan for our workers is in place.” It’s worth noting that a previous version of the same truck law was passed by state lawmakers in the past year. However, Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed it, stating that the present regulatory framework was adequate to guarantee safety. The Teamsters, one of the largest labor unions in the United States, has been a vocal critic of AVs due to safety concerns and potential job losses. They are in full support of both proposed bills.
