Some robotaxis approved to operate without steering wheels and losing the brake pedal could be next LAS VEGAS (AP) — Federal regulators are clearing the way for robotaxis to operate without manual controls like steering wheels or, eventually, even brake pedals as the rules start to catch up to the evolving technology. Amazon’s fully autonomous Zoox vehicles got approval Thursday to begin charging customers for rides in the specially designed cars that feature four inward-facing seats once they secure state and local approval. Zoox has already been offering free rides in Las Vegas and San Francisco since last year. At least a couple of people were waiting at most stops Thursday afternoon for rides up and down the Vegas strip aboard one of the distinctive boxy-shaped vehicles. “It’s kind of scary at first, but when I just got used to it, it’s really cool and chilling. I really liked the music and how you can adjust the temperature,” Chloe Huu from Ann Arbor, Michigan, said after taking a ride in a Zoox Thursday. But the projected wait time for the ride kept changing, which made it hard to plan. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration also proposed a rule last month to allow robotaxis to operate without brake pedals, but that proposal is still pending. Administrator Jonathan Morrison said his agency wants to update the regulations to fit these fully autonomous vehicles while still acting as the “cop on the beat to make sure that this is being done right.” Most vehicle safety regulations were written decades ago, always with the assumption that there would be a human driver behind the wheel. But Morrison said that things like steering wheels, windshield wipers and side-view mirrors aren’t really needed in an autonomous vehicle. “If you’re going to be developing a standard
Jul 31, 2026 · via kfvs12.com
Amazon’s Zoox secures US federal approval for steering-wheel-free robotaxis Zoox will launch its commercial robotaxi service in Las Vegas after receiving federal clearance. Zoox, Amazon’s brand of autonomous vehicles, has won approval in the United States for limited commercial deployment of its steering-wheel-free robotaxis, a first for the autonomous transportation industry. On Thursday, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave its approval for Zoox to begin charging customers for rides, once it secures state and local approval. Recommended Stories list of 3 items- list 1 of 3US opens probe after a Waymo self-driving car hit a child near a school - list 2 of 3Amazon’s Zoox recalls self-driving vehicles amid emergency response issues - list 3 of 3Waymo runs into safety concerns and competition as it expands in the US As part of that approval, the company was granted an exemption from federal rules that require human controls on motor vehicles. NHTSA administrator Jonathan Morrison told the Reuters news agency that Zoox had so far met its safety requirements. But he indicated there would be a staggered rollout, and no Zoox vehicles would be immediately available for sale to the public. “We can say pretty clearly that the systems in place on the Zoox exceed the equivalent performance requirements of a compliant vehicle,” Morrison said. “But we still want to make sure that the automated driving system will operate appropriately.” According to Morrison, Zoox had received clearance to commercially deploy up to 2,500 vehicles in each of the next two years. The NHTSA is also placing additional reporting requirements on Zoox for issues such as crashes or stopping inappropriately on roads. Still, the approval marks a milestone for companies developing robotaxis that deviate from the models of standard motor vehicles. Zoox’s cars are rectangular, carriage-style vehicles with rows of
Jul 30, 2026 · via aljazeera.com
JavaScript is disabled in your browser.
Please enable JavaScript to proceed.
A required part of this site couldn’t load. This may be due to a browser extension, network issues, or browser settings. Please check your connection, disable any ad blockers, or try using a different browser.
Jul 30, 2026 · via dallasnews.com
By JOSH FUNK and TY O’NEIL, Associated Press LAS VEGAS (AP) — Federal regulators are clearing the way for robotaxis to operate without manual controls like steering wheels or eventually even brake pedals as the rules start to catch up to the evolving technology. Amazon’s fully autonomous Zoox vehicles got approval Thursday to begin charging customers for rides in the specially designed cars that feature four inward-facing seats once they secure state and local approval. Zoox has already been offering free rides in Las Vegas and San Francisco since last year. At least a couple people were waiting at most stops Thursday afternoon for rides up and down the Vegas strip aboard one of the distinctive boxy-shaped vehicles. “It’s kind of scary at first, but when I just got used to it, it’s really cool and chilling. I really liked the music and how you can adjust the temperature,” Chloe Huu from Ann Arbor, Michigan, said after taking a ride in a Zoox Thursday. But the projected wait time for the ride kept changing, which made it hard to plan. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration also proposed a rule last month to allow robotaxis to operate without brake pedals, but that proposal is still pending. Administrator Jonathan Morrison said his agency wants to update the regulations to fit these fully autonomous vehicles while still acting as the “cop on the beat to make sure that this is being done right.” Most vehicle safety regulations were written decades ago, always with the assumption that there would be a human driver behind the wheel. But Morrison said that things like steering wheels, windshield wipers and side-view mirrors aren’t really needed in an autonomous vehicle. “If you’re going to be developing a standard in the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, nobody at that time
Jul 30, 2026 · via denverpost.com
Amazon’s Zoox unit has won U.S. approval for limited commercial deployment of its novel steering-wheel-free robotaxis, a first for the autonomous ride industry, the U.S. auto safety agency said on Thursday. Zoox said that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s decision gives the company federal approval to begin charging for rides, and that it will soon begin charging for service, first in Las Vegas, with additional markets to follow as it completes various state requirements. The exemption granted by the agency from federal rules requiring human controls, first reported by Reuters, marks a milestone for companies developing robotaxis from the ground up, rather than modifying conventional cars under safety regulations written long before self-driving technology emerged. Along with Zoox, whose electric carriage-style vehicle has two rows of inward-facing seats and a top speed of 75 miles per hour, others such as Tesla and Alphabet’s Waymo are racing to expand autonomous ride-hailing services in the U.S. NHTSA Administrator Jonathan Morrison told Reuters that Zoox had received clearance to commercially deploy up to 2,500 vehicles in each of the next two years. Zoox currently carries passengers in parts of Las Vegas and San Francisco as part of testing. The exemption would allow Zoox to charge them fees, subject to state and local approvals. The agency said it determined the vehicle is as safe as an equivalent vehicle meeting federal motor vehicle safety standards that are being waived. Zoox cannot sell any of the vehicles to the public. “We can say pretty clearly that the systems in place on the Zoox exceed the equivalent performance requirements of a compliant vehicle,” Morrison said in an interview. “But we still want to make sure that the automated driving system will operate appropriately.” As part of the exemption, NHTSA is placing additional reporting requirements on Zoox
Jul 30, 2026 · via nbcnews.com
Federal regulators are clearing the way for robotaxis to operate without steering wheels or eventually even brake pedals as the rules start to catch up to the evolving technology. Amazon’s fully autonomous Zoox vehicles got approval Thursday to begin charging customers for rides in the specially designed boxy cars that feature four inward-facing seats once they secure state and local approval. Zoox has already been offering free rides in Las Vegas and San Francisco since last year. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration also proposed a rule last month to allow robotaxis to operate without brake pedals, but that proposal is still pending. Administrator Jonathan Morrison said his agency wants to update the regulations to fit these fully autonomous vehicles while still acting as the “cop on the beat to make sure that this is being done right.” Most vehicle safety regulations were written decades ago, always with the assumption that there would be a human driver behind the wheel. But Morrison said that things like steering wheels, windshield wipers and side-view mirrors aren't really needed in an autonomous vehicle. “If you’re going to be developing a standard in the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, nobody at that time had this imagination, nobody had a crystal ball that you might have technologies that would enable the vehicle to drive itself,” Morrison said. Questions remain about robotaxi safety The Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety group raised concerns about Zoox’s plan to operate without a steering wheel or other standard controls because the company didn’t provide detailed evidence to show that its vehicles could operate safely on public roads. “Lots of promises, lots of glossy language, lots of ‘We believe, we think we’ll do this.’ Yet there really was no data behind the promises, and that’s really concerning to us,” said Peter Kurdock,
Jul 30, 2026 · via cbs19news.com
News Autonomous vehicle red tape gets slashed by Trump Administration The Trump Administration today made several key moves to help with the deployment of autonomous vehicles by cutting overreaching red tape that has stifled growth and innovation for years. The moves, which were put forth by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), aim to grant temporary exemptions to at least one company currently, although that could expand in the coming months. Additionally, it will work with organizations to develop standards and a sound but efficient regulatory landscape. Zoox is the only company mentioned explicitly by the Trump Administration in its press release announcing the new terms today. They will receive a temporary two-year exemption that will allow the commercial deployment of up to 2,500 vehicles annually for two years. There is a potential exemption for Robomart, Inc., which “requests a temporary exemption from certain FMVSS No. 500 requirements for a low-speed vehicle operated by an ADS without a human driver onboard. NHTSA will publish a separate notice seeking public comment on its merits once the initial evaluation is complete,” the agency said. Here are the five new terms that Secretary Sean Duffy has implemented through the NHTSA today: - Allow Zoox to commercially deploy its robotaxis through a temporary exemption. This temporary exemption will allow the commercial deployment of up to 2,500 vehicles annually for two years, subject to an enhanced, adaptable oversight structure that can evolve as Zoox’s technology advances. - Accelerate development of first-ever AV performance standards through a partnership with SAE Industry Technologies Consortia (ITC). This partnership will fund a three-year, $5 million “A2SCEND” consortium, bringing together experts to gather data and accelerate creation of the first-ever AV performance standards. This project will inform a single national standard for AV safety to eliminate the patchwork regulatory
Jul 30, 2026 · via teslarati.com
Portland moves to regulate robotaxis By Julia PickarJuly 30, 2026 8:14 p.m.📨 Daily news in your inboxSign up today for OPB’s “First Look” – your daily guide to the most important news and culture stories from around the Northwest.EmailPlease leave this field blankSign up
Jul 30, 2026 · via opb.org
Waymo says it’s gradually adding back freeway routes in Phoenix, with more cities to follow. In May, the company said it was pausing its freeway operations to update software and improve performance around construction and flood zones. Waymo first suspended service in Atlanta after an unoccupied robotaxi stopped in flood water earlier that month. Waymos began using Valley freeways in November 2025. “Waymo’s mission is to be the world’s most trusted driver, and the data shows we are making roads safer in the cities we serve. We are welcoming riders on freeways again after implementing software updates to improve our performance around highway construction zones. We remain focused on operating responsibly to build a driver that communities trust and want on our roads," a spokesperson said in statement. - The Arizona Department of Transportation is rolling out a new feature that allows drivers to add accommodations for communicating to their vehicle or license records. - The Federal Aviation Administration says it received “substantial feedback” from the public about its plans to change flight paths at Valley airports, including Phoenix Sky Harbor, and will delay those plans until next June. - The Hart Mine Road Bridge located near the Arizona-California border collapsed into the river after it was believed to have suffered structural damage from the nearby Island Fire, according to federal officials. No injuries were reported. - A train derailment spilled 15,000 gallons of sodium hydrosulfide near the Naco border crossing into Arizona. - Scott Allison could have taken the shortest route from Las Vegas to Reno. Instead, he drove nearly 50 extra miles through California. The detour wasn't for the scenery. It was for the chargers.
Jul 30, 2026 · via kjzz.org
About
Press
Copyright
Contact us
Creators
Advertise
Developers
Terms
Privacy
Policy & Safety
How YouTube works
Test new features
NFL Sunday Ticket
© 2026 Google LLC
Jul 30, 2026 · via youtube.com
About
Press
Copyright
Contact us
Creators
Advertise
Developers
Terms
Privacy
Policy & Safety
How YouTube works
Test new features
NFL Sunday Ticket
© 2026 Google LLC
Jul 30, 2026 · via youtube.com
‘You’ve asked. We’ve built’: Waymo to launch new vehicle platform Waymo said people might spot the new Ojai vehicles testing with human specialists in other cities. What This Story Is About - Waymo is preparing to launch a new vehicle platform that’s been spotted in Nashville. Why It Matters - Their new vehicle platform, Ojai, features a revamped in-car UI where riders can now harness Google’s Gemini inside. What Happens Next - Waymo said people might spot the new Ojai vehicles testing with human specialists in other cities. For Context - Waymo launched in Nashville on April 7. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - Waymo is preparing to launch a new vehicle platform that’s been spotted in Nashville. Their new vehicle platform, Ojai, features a revamped in-car UI where riders can now harness Google’s Gemini inside. Waymo said people might spot the new Ojai vehicles testing with human specialists in other cities. What type of Waymo car is on the road in Nashville right now? Right now, Waymo uses Waymo One, a Jaguar I-PACE electric SUV, which is equipped with lidar, radar, cameras and hearing sensors that detect sirens and their direction. The vehicle combines four sensor types into a three-dimensional display that passengers can view on screens. Cameras understand the world, lidar sensors provide three-dimensional information and radar determines the speed and range of vehicles. What makes Ojai different than other Waymos? Waymo said they’ve spent years coming up with a riding experience that would feel “less like a car.” The company said even though the silhouette is different, the technology behind the wheel is the Waymo Driver, which serves over 20 million fully automated trips across more than 11 cities. The Ojai will be the first vehicle to debut the 6th-generation Waymo Driver. Waymo announced the beginning of their fully
Jul 30, 2026 · via wsmv.com
In response to recent Waymo incidents that have delayed emergency responders, worsened large-scale traffic jams, and sent vehicles through construction zones, Congressman Kevin Mullin has introduced legislation to establish national standards for cities and manufacturers. US Representative Kevin Mullin of San Mateo unveiled federal legislation Tuesday that would create standardized procedures for autonomous vehicle companies when their vehicles encounter emergency crews during fires, crashes, road closures, and other active incidents, as ABC 7 reports. The proposal, called the AV Emergency Response Coordination Act, would establish the first nationwide framework governing how autonomous vehicle companies work with cities and first responders during emergencies, replacing the current patchwork of manufacturer-specific protocols. The bill would require autonomous vehicle operators to provide standardized emergency response plans, create a 24-hour hotline connecting first responders with AV companies, and implement digital geofencing that would allow authorities to keep self-driving vehicles out of emergency scenes and other hazardous areas. Mullin said the goal is to place the responsibility on manufacturers to ensure their vehicles don't interfere with public safety operations, while San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie said the legislation would provide clearer guidance during street closures, signal failures, and other unexpected disruptions, according to ABC 7. "It would also ensure that AVs respond appropriately when streets close, traffic patterns change, signals fail or when first responders need immediate access," said Lurie. As SFist reported previously, the proposal follows a string of high-profile incidents involving Waymo robotaxis in the Bay Area and other cities, including vehicles driving through crime scenes, obstructing firefighters and paramedics, entering flooded roads, and trapping passengers who are potentially in danger. Additionally, Lurie recently urged California regulators to strengthen oversight of autonomous vehicles following the massive Fourth of July gridlock that left dozens of Waymos sitting motionless in traffic. “This legislation will help keep
Jul 30, 2026 · via sfist.com
29 Jul 2026 Fair Use [17 U.S.C. § 107] GeekCar connected cars illustration. By EVWorld.com AI Editorial Team For more than a decade, China's automotive strategy has focused on one clear objective: replacing the internal combustion engine with electric propulsion. That effort has been remarkably successful. Chinese manufacturers now dominate global battery production, have created some of the world's largest electric vehicle brands, and have pushed EV costs lower through enormous manufacturing scale. For more than a decade, China's automotive strategy has focused on one clear objective: replacing the internal combustion engine with electric propulsion. That effort has been remarkably successful. Chinese manufacturers now dominate global battery production, have created some of the world's largest electric vehicle brands, and have pushed EV costs lower through enormous manufacturing scale. But China's next automotive ambition is not simply to build more electric cars. It is to transform the automobile into a connected, intelligent platform that merges transportation, artificial intelligence, and energy management. The emerging concept is often described as the "Connected Autonomous New Energy Vehicle" (CNEV). It combines three technologies: electric propulsion, continuous digital connectivity, and increasingly capable autonomous driving systems. The first element - the new energy vehicle - is already well established. Battery-electric vehicles have become mainstream in China, supported by extensive charging infrastructure, government incentives, and aggressive competition among domestic automakers. Companies such as BYD, NIO, XPeng, and others have demonstrated that Chinese manufacturers can compete globally not only on price but also on technology, battery efficiency, and software integration. The next step is connectivity. Modern Chinese EVs are increasingly designed as software platforms. Vehicles communicate with cloud services, receive over-the-air updates, monitor battery health, optimize routes, and integrate digital services into the driving experience. Instead of a vehicle remaining essentially unchanged after purchase, manufacturers envision cars that continuously
Jul 29, 2026 · via evworld.com
Baidu has officially begun testing its autonomous vehicles on London’s streets, marking another significant milestone in the UK’s journey towards self-driving transport. The Chinese technology giant’s Apollo Go robotaxi started trials this week in partnership with Freenow by Lyft, adding further momentum to an increasingly competitive market that already includes Waymo and Wayve, which are both preparing autonomous taxi services for the capital. The launch underlines London’s growing importance as a proving ground for autonomous vehicle technology, with the city now attracting some of the world’s largest self-driving developers as the UK positions itself as a leader in connected and automated mobility. Testing began on Tuesday, 28 July, with Apollo Go’s sixth-generation RT6 autonomous vehicles operating in the London Borough of Brent. The vehicles are currently accompanied by trained safety operators while they collect data and adapt to one of the world’s most demanding urban driving environments. Public passenger services are expected to begin during 2027, subject to regulatory approval. Apollo Go has already accumulated millions of autonomous journeys across China, making Baidu one of the world’s largest commercial robotaxi operators. London represents one of its most significant international expansions to date. Thomas Zimmermann, CEO of Freenow by Lyft, stressed that the technology is intended to complement, rather than replace, professional drivers. “As a platform with deep roots in the taxi industry, our priority is ensuring that autonomous technology supports the professional drivers who keep London moving. “By integrating these purpose-built, autonomous vehicles from Baidu’s Apollo Go into the Freenow by Lyft ecosystem, we will give Londoners more sustainable choices to travel, encouraging them to choose shared mobility services over personally-owned vehicles.” Freenow said the autonomous vehicles will operate alongside its existing network of black cabs and private hire vehicles, creating a hybrid platform designed to improve vehicle availability and
Jul 29, 2026 · via fleetpoint.org
A City of San Antonio Zoning Commission decision just cleared the way for more driverless vehicles in San Antonio. Electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla already offers robotaxis in Houston, Dallas and Austin. Now, they could be coming to San Antonio after zoning commissioners approved a new robotaxi parking lot and charging station in Tobin Hill. Waymo’s autonomous vehicles first started driving down San Antonio streets earlier this year. The company suspended passenger service in the city in April after flash flooding washed away one of its vehicles and highlighted a software issue, but Waymo is “working to resume soon” and could bring its new van, called the Ojai, to San Antonio. Foothold for Tesla On July 21, San Antonio’s zoning commission approved a change in an 8-2 vote allowing Austin-based Tesla to charge and keep electric vehicles at a parking lot on Josephine Street near the Nathaniel Hawthorne Academy, a public elementary school, and down the street from Pearl. Attorney Patrick Christensen representing landowner RS Josephine Development said that they had previously planned to build a mixed-use building with 900 apartments and ground-floor commercial space, but that plan was scrapped after costs rose over the past three years. RS Josephine Development is a limited liability company registered to Jim McAlister IV, the founder of Houston investment firm Rockspring. Christensen said the company would lease the parking lot to Tesla and have full-time staff on site to plug in and monitor vehicles. “One of the important reasons why Tesla chose this site is because it has sufficient power. They can’t just put these things anywhere. You’ve got to have the right power infrastructure for them to be able to plug into to charge up the cars,” Christensen said. The vehicles could also be programmed to avoid roadways in front of the neighboring
Jul 29, 2026 · via sanantonioreport.org
“What we should be thinking about is not, how do we get rid of this. It is, ‘if it’s coming, how do we get the best deal for our cities, now?’” said Andrew Miller, an innovative mobility expert and co-author of the book The End of Driving. Miller, publisher of the weekly newsletter Changing Lanes, was part of a July 16 panel hosted by the Parking Reform Network, a member organization committed to educating the public about parking policy and how it can impact transportation, climate-change and housing. AVs in the United States are dominated by robotaxis, which are deployed across roughly half a dozen major metropolitan regions, with more on the way. That’s a significant leap in growth from six to eight years ago when AV technology was more talk than reality. “If you think they’re a fake or a con, I wouldn’t blame you for that, because people [talked] so much nonsense about this technology, from roughly 2005 to roughly 2020, and it poisoned the well,” Miller said, recalling the seemingly endless chatter about AVs in transportation technology circles. “It’s not a dodge. It’s real,” he said, noting some 40 percent of ride-hailing trips in San Francisco are via Waymo. Ultimately, driving automation will not be limited to ride-hailing, but will make its way to personal vehicles, Miller said, adding, “there’s no world where self-driving [vehicles] doesn’t lead to much more [traffic] congestion. That’s just going to happen. I don’t see any way around that.” A new report by the Sam Schwartz Transportation Research Program at Hunter College, in collaboration with advocacy organization Open Plans, found that unless clear policies are put in place, self-driving taxis will endlessly circle blocks in dense areas like Manhattan rather than park before returning to service, adding to more congestion. “This report
Jul 29, 2026 · via govtech.com
- Four focus areas show how AUMOVIO transforms technological complexity into concrete solutions for manufacturers and fleets - Efficiency: VDO Ecosystem und VDO Link make compliance data usable for more efficient fleet processes - Software-defined commercial vehicles: AUMOVIO combines hardware, software, and services into scalable vehicle architectures - Safe and autonomous driving: partnership with Aurora brings autonomous trucking systems closer to commercial and industrial production - Electrification: components, charging infrastructure, and digital services enable solutions for electric commercial vehicles and fleets - Virtual TechTalk on August 28 will provide in-depth insights into AUMOVIO highlights and exclusive press materials ahead of IAA Transportation Press release AUMOVIO focuses on technologies for efficient, software-defined, electrified, and autonomous transportation Frankfurt, Germany, July 29, 2026. Rising costs, driver shortages, new regulatory requirements, and the adoption of alternative drive trains are placing the transportation sector under increasing pressure. At IAA Transportation 2026 in Hanover from September 14 to 20, AUMOVIO will demonstrate how these challenges can be translated into commercially viable solutions for commercial vehicle manufacturers and fleet operators. The commercial vehicle sector is at a turning point. Efficient, software-defined commercial vehicles, safe and autonomous driving, and electrification must all advance simultaneously – not as stand-alone technologies, but as integrated solutions that work in real-world operations. The key is not only to develop innovation, but also to implement it in a way that is economically scalable. This is exactly where we are focusing our efforts. Ismail Dagli, member of the Executive Board and head of the Autonomous and Commercial Mobility business area at AUMOVIO From products to solutions: four interconnected focus areas Across four focus areas – efficiency, software-defined commercial vehicles, safe and autonomous driving, and electrification – AUMOVIO will demonstrate at booth D06 in hall 11 and at the outdoor exhibit area, booth R61, how
Jul 29, 2026 · via aumovio.com
China Gives Strong Signal on Connected & Autonomous New Energy Vehicles Support CleanTechnica's work through a Substack subscription, on Patreon, or on Stripe. Help us produce all of the high-quality, original content we publish week after week despite the challenges of content-scraping AI, antisocial media, inflation, and other hurdles. It should come as a surprise to no one that the Chinese government is intent on leading continuing to lead on connected vehicles and electric vehicles, but the industry got a strong indication of support this week from the head of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology’s (MIIT’s) equipment industry department, Guo Shougang. During a media roundtable at the 2026 World Intelligent Connected Vehicle Conference — surely planned — Shougang shared that the MIIT will speed up the release of its 15th Five-Year Plan for smart, connected NEVs. It seems the industry is moving so fast and innovating so much that even the MIIT is struggling to keep up and having to pick up the pace. The longer the drafting process takes, the more likely it’s going to be out of date when released! As state news outlet Xinhua/News.cn summarizes, he also said that the MIIT would “thoroughly implement the ‘National Standardization Development Outline,’ expedite breakthroughs in a number of key core technologies, accelerate the development, international coordination, and implementation of key standards, and further promote pilot applications, production access, and road access for ‘vehicle-road-cloud integration,’ thereby fostering an ecosystem that connects the entire industry chain.” Elsewhere, it was highlighted that the country was already at the forefront of connected vehicle and NEV technology (as we all know) and that we are at an important precipice. Fu Bingfeng, Vice President and Secretary General of the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, “introduced the development and future trends of intelligent connected vehicles.
Jul 29, 2026 · via cleantechnica.com
San Francisco demands federal Waymo crackdown after July 4 traffic meltdown stranded thousands See more of our coverage in your search results. Add The California Post on GoogleSan Francisco city leaders are throwing their weight behind new federal legislation to crack down on rogue self-driving cars, after a number of Waymos clogged the city’s streets and left thousands to march home on foot during a disastrous July Fourth celebration. The proposed law by Congressman Kevin Mullin (D-Calif.) would direct federal regulators to establish minimum national safety standards for autonomous vehicles. Specifically, the new rules would make sure the vehicles will not impede emergency operations. “This legislation will give local government and autonomous vehicle companies a clearer framework for coordinating during an emergencies and unexpected disruptions,” Lurie said at a Tuesday press conference. “It would also ensure that AV’s respond appropriately when streets close, traffic patterns change, signals fail or when first responders need immediate access.” Sign up for the California Morning Report newsletter California's top news, sports and entertainment delivered to your inbox every day. Thanks for signing up! Under the bill, autonomous vehicle companies would be required to provide standardized emergency response protocols. It also would require a 24-hour hotline that gives public officials direct access to AV companies. There could also be a process allowing public officials to “geofence” AVs, or in other words, placing limits on where self-driving vehicles can operate during emergencies. “This is an attempt for the federal government to engage on the issue and develop some uniform standards of protocol across the country that really puts the onus on these companies to do the right thing,” Mullin said. The self-driving car company, Waymo, seems to be in support of the federal legislation. “Establishing minimum guidelines would provide the entire industry and public safety community
Jul 29, 2026 · via nypost.com