Trucking news and briefs for Monday, Sept. 25, 2023:
Calif. Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday, Sept. 22, vetoed California’s AB 316, a bill that passed through the state’s legislature and would have effectively banned driverless trucks in the state.
The bill would have required trained human operators to be inside an autonomous heavy-duty vehicle while it is operating on public roads in the state.
In vetoing the bill, Newsom said it was “unnecessary for the regulation and oversight of heavy-duty autonomous vehicle technology in California, as existing law provides sufficient authority to create the appropriate regulatory framework.”
In 2012, the California legislature provided the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) with the authority to regulate the testing and deployment of autonomous vehicles on public roads in California. As part of its oversight and regulatory responsibilities, Newsom said, DMV consults with the California Highway Patrol, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and others with relevant expertise to determine the regulations necessary for the safe operation of autonomous vehicles on public roads.
The California DMV also continuously monitors the testing and operations of autonomous vehicles on California roads and has the authority to suspend or revoke permits as necessary to protect the public's safety, Newsom noted.
Nearly 8 in 10 Overdrive readers, responding to polling earlier this year, signaled support for the kind of approach taken with AB 316, the large majority on basic safety grounds.
