New York State Senator Pete Harckham has proposed a new legislation that would mandate the presence of a trained human operator in autonomous vehicles weighing over 10,000 pounds on New York roads, effectively prohibiting driverless commercial trucks. While a similar bill was vetoed in California last year, New York is now taking a stand to prioritize job security and public safety.
The bill, S. 7758, is facing resistance from the Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association (AVIA), with its CEO, Jeff Farrah, arguing that this legislation would prematurely ban autonomous trucks in New York. Farrah believes that autonomous vehicles and truck drivers can work together to support the growing freight demand and the supply chain’s manufacturers, farmers, and small businesses. Several states have already rejected similar legislation, and AVIA urges New York lawmakers to reconsider their approach.
The Teamsters union, on the other hand, has been supportive of bills that require human operators alongside driverless technologies. They view such regulations as crucial for protecting truck driving jobs. New York alone has approximately 270,000 transportation jobs, including 58,300 heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers. By advocating for a licensed driver in autonomous vehicles, Senator Harckham’s bill aims to prioritize job security and public safety.
Autonomous trucking technology is rapidly advancing, with companies like Kodiak Robotics and Aurora working towards removing the need for a human driver from the cab. However, New York’s proposed ban is a significant divergence from this trend, placing importance on preserving jobs and ensuring the safety of residents and property.
As the debate around autonomous vehicles and job displacement continues, New York’s legislation sets a precedent for striking a balance between embracing technological innovation and protecting the livelihoods of workers in the transportation industry. It remains to be seen how this proposed ban will develop and whether it will have any lasting impact on the future of autonomous trucking in the state.
The source of the article is from the blog rugbynews.at