California Governor Gavin Newsom has chosen to veto Assembly Bill 316, a legislative proposal that aimed to mandate the presence of trained human safety operators in autonomous semi trucks whenever they traverse public roads within the state. While the bill received resounding support with a 36-2 vote in the Senate just last week, it awaited the Governor’s approval before becoming law.
Governor Newsom defended his decision by asserting that the bill was deemed “unnecessary” in the realm of heavy-duty autonomous vehicle technology regulation. He stressed the adequacy of the existing regulatory framework, which vests the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) with authority over autonomous vehicles operating within the state.
According to the Governor, the DMV maintains a collaborative approach with various agencies, including the state highway patrol and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), to formulate and implement laws that prioritize the safety of autonomous vehicles.
Furthermore, Governor Newsom emphasized that the DMV actively seeks input from a diverse range of “interested stakeholders” in shaping forthcoming regulations pertaining to driverless vehicles. He pledged to uphold a transparent and publicly inclusive rulemaking process, involving subject matter experts and stakeholders while actively soliciting public input and comments.
The Teamsters union, staunch proponents of the bill, expressed their disappointment following Governor Newsom’s veto. Teamsters President Sean O’Brien argued that the bill’s passage would have played a crucial role in safeguarding jobs and communities, contending that vetoing it sends a concerning signal about the deployment of these autonomous vehicles on the road.
