A California Senate bill could put rules regarding self-driving cars in the hands of local leaders instead of the state.
Senate Bill 915, introduced by Sen. Dave Cortese in January, aims to keep streets safe as more self-driving cars hit the streets, but would allow each local government to establish its own rules for such “based on the community’s unique needs”—particularly in pedestrian-heavy areas like schools and airports—according to a Jan. 9 press release by the senator’s office.
It would also ensure that self-driving car taxi services are safe and user-friendly for all—including passengers with disabilities—and require companies to demonstrate that each of their self-driving vehicles is regularly inspected to ensure safety.
“[Senate Bill 915] returns control to the local communities who know their streets best,” Mr. Cortese said in the press release. “City councils and county boards of supervisors adopt ordinances on any given week, nimbly and with local accountability.”
He also stressed the importance of rolling out self-driving tech safely.
“[Senate Bill] 915 strikes the right balance between responsible technology deployment and public safety,” he said. “Under [Senate Bill] 915, the rules of the road will continue to be established and enforced by the people who live there.”
Assemblyman Freddie Rodriguez, a co-author of the bill, also pointed out that self-driving cars “currently fall short in their capability to adequately detect and interact with first responders and their emergency scenes.”
“Such a shortfall would be deemed unacceptable for human drivers,” Mr. Rodriguez said in the press release. “[Senate Bill] 915 would not only allow cities to ensure there are safe policies for deployment on their streets but also ensure autonomous vehicles can work with a city’s first responders.”
The bill is also co-sponsored by the California Teamsters Public Affairs Council and the League of California Cities.
