California Governor Gavin Newsom has vetoed a bill that would have required human drivers to be on board self-driving trucks. The bill, which was supported by union leaders and truck drivers, aimed to save hundreds of thousands of jobs in the state.
The legislation would have prohibited self-driving trucks weighing over 10,000 pounds from operating on public roads without a human driver present. Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher, head of the California Labor Federation, expressed shock at Newsom’s veto and estimated that removing drivers would result in the loss of a quarter million jobs in the state.
In response to the veto, Fletcher stated, “We will not sit by as bureaucrats side with tech companies, trading our safety and jobs for increased corporate profits. We will continue to fight to make sure that robots do not replace human drivers and that technology is not used to destroy good jobs.”
In announcing his decision not to sign the bill, Governor Newsom argued that additional regulation of autonomous trucks was unnecessary because existing laws are sufficient. He pointed to a 2012 legislation that allows the state Department of Motor Vehicles to work with relevant experts to determine the necessary regulations for the safe operation of autonomous vehicles on public roads.
Opponents of the bill argued that self-driving cars currently on the roads have not caused many serious accidents compared to cars driven by humans, and that self-driving trucks would help businesses transport products more efficiently. However, union leaders and drivers believed that the bill would have addressed concerns about safety and the potential loss of truck driving jobs to automation in the future.
The veto comes amidst an ongoing debate about the future of autonomous vehicles. In San Francisco, two robotaxi companies recently received approval to operate in the city at all hours. Last week, hundreds of truck drivers, union leaders, and supporters of the bill rallied at the state Capitol in Sacramento, urging Governor Newsom to sign the bill.
Overall, the vetoed bill reflects the complex issues surrounding self-driving vehicles, including potential job losses and safety concerns. As technology continues to advance, finding a balance between innovation and protecting the livelihoods of workers will be a key challenge for policymakers.
