San Francisco officials urge halt on driverless taxis in city.
San Francisco Officials Call for Temporary Suspension of Driverless Taxi Service
San Francisco city officials are urging state regulators to temporarily suspend their decision to allow driverless taxi service around the clock. The move comes as concerns about the lack of regulations on self-driving vehicles’ operational measures continue to grow.
“The city will suffer serious harm if there’s no limitation on factors such as geographic area, service hours, and fleet size,” said San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu.
California Gives Green Light for 24/7 Driverless Taxi Service
Last week, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) voted 3-1 to approve the expansion of Cruise and Waymo, two major driverless taxi companies, allowing them to operate and charge fees at all hours of the day in San Francisco. With approximately 600 self-operated vehicles already on the streets, concerns about the impact on the city’s infrastructure and safety have been raised.
San Francisco Board of Supervisors Petitions for Reconsideration
In response to multiple incidents of driverless cars blocking traffic, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors announced their intention to petition the CPUC to reconsider their decision. The board is concerned about the potential disruptions caused by the lack of regulations.
Cruise, one of the companies affected by the decision, blamed the recent traffic jam on wireless bandwidth constraints caused by the city’s Outside Lands festival.
“The City of San Francisco will be petitioning the California Public Utilities Commission asking them for reconsideration, potentially if need be, taking this to a court of competent jurisdiction, appealing to the Department of Motor Vehicles,” said Aaron Peskin, president of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.
Challenges Faced by Driverless Cars
Since the decision to allow 24/7 driverless taxi service in San Francisco, there have already been difficulties. A Cruise driverless taxi got stuck in wet concrete after driving into an unfinished construction site.
Previously, Cruise operated in limited areas of San Francisco and only during specific hours. The company also offers its driverless ride-hailing services in Phoenix, Arizona.
Cruise has been conducting tests of its self-driving vehicles in various cities across the nation and plans to expand the testing phase to multiple other areas.
Safety Concerns Raised by Local Associations
The San Francisco Police Officers Association, San Francisco Deputy Sheriffs’ Association, and the San Francisco Fire Fighters Local 798 have all expressed concerns about the safety of driverless taxi operations. They have reached out to the CPUC to address these concerns.
The Washington Examiner has reached out to the CPUC, Cruise, and Waymo for comment.
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