Overview
- The ordinance, proposed by four city councilors on Sept. 16, would require a licensed, paid “safety monitor” with immediate access to steering, braking and acceleration in every commercial autonomous ride-hail vehicle.
- Supporters say the rule would protect more than 10,000 local Uber and Lyft drivers from displacement and ensure a human could intervene in emergencies or unusual traffic conditions.
- Waymo calls the requirement a de facto ban and says the rule would block its plans for fully driverless service while disability groups and safety advocates counter that driverless cars can improve mobility for people with disabilities.
- The council has scheduled public hearings for Sept. 22 and Sept. 29 and set a tentative vote for Oct. 1 with an effective date of Oct. 1, 2027 if the measure passes.
- The dispute highlights a wider national fight over local control of robotaxi rules, will shape whether companies expand driverless fleets, and could push state lawmakers to write uniform rules that affect drivers, transit patterns and mobility programs.