Lawmakers in California are taking steps to introduce legislation that would increase regulation on driverless cars, addressing concerns over accountability and safety. Assemblyman Phil Ting, who represents San Francisco’s 19th District, plans to introduce a bill that would allow city police to issue tickets to autonomous vehicles and require immediate sharing of accident reports.
Ting emphasizes the need for clarity on liability, stating, “There’s no way for law enforcement to pull a [self-driving] vehicle over. Someone has got to be liable, right? It’s either got to be an individual or a company.” The legislation is aimed at addressing this crucial question, while also ensuring that self-driving car companies adhere to specific regulations.
Currently, police in California can only issue citations if a safety driver is present inside the autonomous vehicle at the time of the violation. However, if the vehicle is in autonomous mode without a safety operator, no citation for a moving violation can be given, according to an internal memo obtained from San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott.
In addition to enforcement issues, the legislation seeks to address the limits on ticketing for moving infractions without a safety operator. Although driverless cars can be cited for parking violations, there are currently restrictions on issuing tickets for moving violations.
This move comes after recent incidents involving autonomous vehicles in California, including an accident where a Cruise car struck a pedestrian, leading to the revocation of the company’s permit by the California Department of Motor Vehicles. Cruise has stated its commitment to improving its safety culture and regaining public trust before relaunching its services.
Assemblyman Ting plans to collaborate with autonomous vehicle companies, the California Department of Motor Vehicles, and other stakeholders to develop comprehensive regulations that ensure the safe and accountable operation of driverless cars on California roads.
The source of the article is from the blog hashtagsroom.com