The US state is planning a law so that in the future autonomous trucks will only be allowed to drive around with on-board staff.
The state California takes action against autonomous driving, although in San Francisco The robot taxis are allowed to operate without restrictions.
With a bang, the California Senate on Monday passed a bill requiring a trained human safety operator to be present at all times when a heavy-duty self-driving vehicle is operated on public roads in the state. The law therefore prohibits autonomous trucks without Onboard staff.
The bill, called AB 316, which passed the Senate by a vote of 36-2, still needs to be signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom before it becomes law. Recently, Newsom has been more pro-industry. He has previously expressed his opposition to such restrictions, which would not only undermine existing regulations for autonomous truck driving, but could also limit the innovative capacity and effectiveness of the supply chain and hinder California’s economic competitiveness.
Proponents of the bill, first introduced in January, argue that greater control over distance would protect the safety of California’s road users and ensure job security for truck drivers. The hostility to progress is particularly emphasized.
The critical voices point to almost 6,000 truck accidents, which represents an increase of almost 50 percent within ten years. The bill’s initiators previously told US media that they do not want to permanently stop autonomous truck traffic in California, but only until the legislature is convinced that it is safe enough to remove the driver.
Under the law, the DMV must now provide evidence of safety to policymakers. By 2029, the DMV must submit a report to assess the performance of AV technology and its impact on public safety and employment in the trucking sector. The report will include information such as disruptions and accidents, as well as a recommendation on the need for human safety operators in heavy AVs.
After approval it must DMV wait another year before it can issue permits. That means California may not have self-driving trucks on its roads without human drivers until 2030 or later.