The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) announced on Thursday that it will implement new data reporting requirements for autonomous vehicles, mandating companies to provide detailed trip-level reports for both collision and non-collision incidents. These reports will cover events such as accidents, citations, and instances where self-driving cars become stuck.
In its new guidelines, CPUC requires all autonomous vehicle operators to file incident reports with both the commission and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) within one day of a collision. The reports must include more comprehensive data to ensure better oversight and prompt responses to accidents. “This rule will provide critical information on how to keep passengers safe during their rides as we roll into a new era of more widespread autonomous vehicle use,” said CPUC Commissioner Matthew Baker.
The new reporting requirements come after General Motors’ (GM) Cruise unit was fined $112,500 in June for failing to provide complete information on a serious crash involving one of its robotaxis. This move also coincides with growing scrutiny of self-driving vehicles. In particular, Cruise is under investigation by multiple agencies, including NHTSA, the Justice Department, and the Securities and Exchange Commission, following a pedestrian accident involving one of its robotaxis last October.
As automakers like Tesla and Cruise expand their autonomous vehicle services, the regulatory landscape is intensifying. Tesla plans to launch driverless ride-hailing services in California and Texas next year, while Cruise is set to offer its vehicles on the Uber platform by 2025. Despite these ambitious plans, regulatory hurdles continue to challenge the autonomous vehicle industry.
