California lawmakers voted Wednesday to pass a bill that would ban autonomous trucks from operating without a driver, requiring a safety driver to always be present.
The bill will now head to Gov. Gavin Newsom for his signature.
The Teamsters and other labor groups support the measure. They claim driverless trucks would eliminate thousands of good-paying jobs for human drivers.
“Statewide support for AB 316 is essential as California considers the increased use of autonomous vehicles on our roads,” said Randy Cammack, president of Teamsters Joint Council 42, said in a statement in March. “Representing thousands of truck drivers across the state, the Teamsters will continue to fight for our members’ good jobs and safety on the roads, as well as the safety of all California drivers. The public should not be treated as a lab rat for big corporations to test their technology. Californians deserve a safety-first approach, and this bill would do just that.”…