The result of a research study into the leanings of California residents indicates that the overwhelming majority want a human decision-maker in the cab of every big rig.
When more than 1,000 people were asked to what degree — if any — they supported legislation banning driverless Class 8 vehicles from operating on the roads, 48 percent indicated they strongly supported a law and another 28 percent “somewhat supported” the AB 316 bill vetoed by Gov. Gavin Newsom. The survey concluded that only 20 percent opposed banning autonomous commercial motor vehicles, with 7 percent remaining neutral. It’s also important to note that there was little difference across party lines, age, gender, or household income.
With that data in hand, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters appears to be circling back to bring pressure to bear. The California Teamsters vehemently opposed a policy that could potentially remove union drivers from autonomous trucks before year’s end. The country’s largest private sector union also pointed to recent robotaxi incidents as a reason to pause the program.
“As autonomous vehicle companies try to push their new, untested technology onto our roads, we need to prioritize legislation that will protect our streets and good-paying driving jobs, and that starts with AB 2286,” Teamsters International Western Region Vice President Peter Finn reportedly said. “We’ve seen the destruction that small robotaxis can cause, injuring pedestrians and preventing first responders from doing their job. We cannot allow driverless vehicles weighing ten times that of a robotaxi onto our roads without a human operator. That’s why the Teamsters are calling on California policymakers to pass AB 2286.”
Gov. Newsom vetoed AB 316 in September, and AB 2286 essentially mirrors the former’s ban on driverless trucks. Newsom reportedly based his decision on language in current laws that gives the state’s DMV oversight and control of the process.
“Assembly Bill 316 is unnecessary for the regulation and oversight of heavy-duty autonomous vehicle technology in California, as existing law provides sufficient authority to create the appropriate regulatory framework,” Gov. Newsom reportedly stated in his veto memo.
That said, permits were recently pulled after a robotaxi dragged an individual in San Francisco. An angry mob trashed the driverless taxi.
Assembly Majority Leader Cecilia Aguiar-Curry has reportedly reintroduced a bill that would effectively pause autonomous big rigs until residents and lawmakers believe they have confidence in highway and pedestrian safety. Members of the Teamsters stand to maintain jobs that might otherwise be eliminated.
Sources:
https://www.gov.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/AB-316-Veto-Message.pdf
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