California legislation seeks to increase the number of human drivers in robotaxis such as Waymo’s.

Lawmakers Push for Human Operators in Robotaxis

Lawmakers in Silicon Valley are proposing a new requirement for robotaxis like Waymo’s to have human operators present on-site. This comes in response to incidents where autonomous vehicles caused traffic jams, notably during a power outage in San Francisco last winter.

Waymo, a major player in the self-driving industry, expressed concern that the proposed legislation could have serious repercussions. This follows remarks made by Mauricio Peña, the company’s chief safety officer, during a Senate hearing, where he revealed that the human operators the company relies on primarily reside in the Philippines. Additionally, lawmakers are criticizing Waymo after one of its vehicles hit a child in Santa Monica.

California State Senator David Cortese, a Democrat from San Jose, introduced the bill, emphasizing that it would help tech companies respond to emergencies more swiftly and prevent robotaxis from obstructing emergency vehicles.

“Sadly, there are still many accounts of autonomous vehicles interfering with traffic or competing with first responders,” Cortese stated while presenting the bill earlier this week. He pointed out that having humans nearby is crucial for addressing “ambiguous situations” as they arise.

The proposed legislation would mandate that self-driving car companies hire remote drivers and assistants based in the U.S., specifically licensed in California, with a requirement of one operator for every three vehicles.

Moreover, these workers would need to arrive at emergencies within 10 minutes, and each robotaxi would have to include a manual override feature for safety officials.

The bill has already gained traction, passing the Senate Transportation Committee with a 7-2 vote.

Waymo operates approximately 3,000 vehicles across the country, while there are around 30 other companies currently seeking permits. Industry representatives have criticized Cortese’s legislation, calling it excessive, and argue that they are already working to meet similar safety benchmarks.

Industry lobbyist Sarah Boot mentioned that current Californian regulations require continuous monitoring of self-driving vehicles. Starting in July, human operators will also be expected to respond to emergency personnel within 30 seconds and, if instructed, clear vehicles within a two-minute timeframe.

Boot voiced opposition to creating overlapping systems, arguing that companies have invested significantly in developing procedures for compliance with existing rules.

Another point of contention in the proposed bill is a provision that could lead to banning companies from operating if they repeatedly violate the requirements.

State Senator Scott Wiener, representing San Francisco, argued that expecting a 10-minute response time is unrealistic. “I wish I could get around San Francisco in 10 minutes,” he remarked. “I can’t.”

California Firefighters Union lobbyist Megan Subers supported the bill, suggesting it would prevent robotaxis from blocking access to fire stations or interfering with firefighting operations.