California DMV Drafts Regulations for Autonomous Vehicles

(Reuters) – The California Department of Motor Vehicles has issued draft regulations for the operation of autonomous vehicles on highways, allowing self-driving trucks to begin long-haul deliveries.

Key Points

• The DMV plans to implement a framework requiring safety drivers for light- and heavy-duty operations initially.
• Feedback on the draft is accepted until Oct. 14.

Importance

The regulations aim to address growing scrutiny over autonomous driving technology following several crash incidents. If approved, they could benefit autonomous trucking startups, although there are concerns about job losses in the trucking industry.

Context

Self-driving vehicles from companies like Waymo and Cruise have had regulatory issues due to accidents. A Waymo vehicle hit a cyclist, while a Cruise vehicle was involved in a serious accident in San Francisco.

Autonomous trucks have shown progress on specified routes, such as those operated by Waabi, which hauls freight for Uber between Dallas and Houston.

Responses

Responses to the draft have varied:
– The Teamsters Union criticized it, claiming it jeopardizes jobs and public safety. Teamsters General President Sean O’Brien stated it’s an insult to California workers concerned about job losses.
– Conversely, the Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association praised the draft as a significant move for roadway safety and supply chain resilience.

This draft follows the California Assembly’s recent passage of two autonomous vehicle safety bills, requiring human operators in driverless trucks and mandating manufacturers to report accidents and traffic violations. For these bills to become law, Governor Gavin Newsom must sign them.