The race to develop and deploy autonomous vehicles (AVs) has intensified in California with the recent passage of a bill that mandates a trained human safety operator to be present in heavy-duty AVs whenever they are on public roads.
This bill has sparked a heated debate between supporters who argue for the safety of the roads and the job security of truck drivers, and the AV industry that claims that it will stunt the progress of AV technology and harm competitiveness. Read more below.
The Background
California has been a testing ground for AVs for years, and the recent bill that mandates human safety operators to be inside its vehicles is in response to fatal accidents that have occurred recently.
It is argued that the unpredictable nature of California highways and the weight of trucks make it essential to have human intervention available. The DMV currently has a ban on autonomous vehicles weighing over 10,001 pounds in California. AB 316 limits the DMV's authority to regulate AVs and adds provisions to ensure the safety of AV technology.
And what are the impacts of the bill?
Bill's Impacts
The bill does not ban AV companies from testing or deploying self-driving trucks on public roads. Instead, it mandates that a trained human driver be present in the vehicle, and take over in case of emergency.
The bill also outlines a recommendation on whether the legislature should remove, modify, or maintain the requirement for an autonomous vehicle to operate with a human safety operator physically present in the vehicle.
People who support this somehow “human participation” claim that it is necessary to ensure the safety of California's roads and the job security of the truck drivers as you've read above.
However, the AV industry and industry representatives have denounced the move as unreasonable and harmful to the competitiveness of California's AV and trucking sectors.
The ones who do not defend all those news claims that the bill will hinder the advancement of technology that can save lives. In any case, the future depends on what comes next soon.
The Future Of Autonomous Vehicles In California
The Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association executive director, Jeff Farrah, has called the bill a “preemptive technology ban” which undermines California’s law enforcement and safety officials as they seek to regulate and conduct oversight over life-saving autonomous trucks.
If the bill moves to the Senate, it will go to Governor Gavin Newsom's desk to be signed into law. The DMV will need to submit a report to the state by January 1, 2029, or five years after the start of testing, whichever occurs later.
The report will evaluate AV technology's performance, its impact on public safety and employment in the trucking sector, as well as disengagements and crashes.
The passage of AB 316 highlights the need for regulation to ensure the safety of all road users. While AV technology has the potential to save lives and make transportation more efficient, it must be developed and tested responsibly.
After all, the battle between California lawmakers and the AV industry emphasizes the importance of striking a balance between safety and innovation. The DMV's report will provide additional information on the impact of AV technology on public safety and employment in the trucking sector and will aid in deciding whether the mandate for human safety operators should be removed, modified, or maintained.
