{"id":2081395,"date":"2023-10-27T13:24:02","date_gmt":"2023-10-27T17:24:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/los-angeles-councilman-calls-for-regulations-on-robotaxis\/"},"modified":"2023-10-27T13:28:44","modified_gmt":"2023-10-27T17:28:44","slug":"los-angeles-councilman-calls-for-regulations-on-robotaxis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/los-angeles-councilman-calls-for-regulations-on-robotaxis\/","title":{"rendered":"LA Councilman seeks regulations for &#8216;robotaxis&#8217;."},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">12<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Flos-angeles-councilman-calls-for-regulations-on-robotaxis%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2081395&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><blockquote>\n<h2>Los\u200d Angeles City Councilman Urges Action on Autonomous\u2064 Vehicles<\/h2>\n<p>LOS ANGELES\u2014In a bold \u2063move, City Councilman Hugo Soto-Martinez has called on the city attorney to join a lawsuit against a state commission, demanding action on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/los-angeles-councilman-calls-for-regulations-on-robotaxis\/\" title=\"LA Councilman seeks regulations for 'robotaxis'.\">public\u2062 safety concerns surrounding autonomous vehicles<\/a> (AVs)\u2064 and\u2063 the expansion of robotaxis in Los Angeles.<\/p>\n<p>Soto-Martinez specifically named Waymo and Cruise, two companies at the forefront of \u2064AV development, in his motion.<\/p>\n<p>During a news\u2064 conference at City \u200bHall, Soto-Martinez emphasized that Los Angeles should\u200c not be a testing ground for the tech industry.\u2063 He urged state \u200cofficials to tighten regulations for robotaxis, citing an alarming increase in safety incidents such \u200cas crashes and congestion.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<h3>Related Stories<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/article\/gm-cruise-recalls-300-robotaxis-after-1-crashed-into-a-bus-5180819?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><strong>GM Cruise Recalls 300 \u2062Robotaxis After 1 \u200dCrashed Into \u2062a Bus<\/strong><\/a>  &#8211; 4\/8\/2023<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/safety-concerns-drive-california-dmv-to-revoke-cruises-driverless-testing-permits-5516159?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><strong>Safety Concerns\u200b Drive\u2063 California DMV to \u200cRevoke Cruise&#8217;s Driverless Testing Permits<\/strong><\/a>  &#8211; 10\/24\/2023<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;Some of the stories that I&#8217;ve heard are absolutely \u2062egregious and should not be happening here in the city. These vehicles have stopped at intersections at peak hours, \u2063whether due to crashes or shutting down to the lack of connectivity,&#8221;\u2064 he added.<\/p>\n<p>Soto-Martinez also expressed concerns about the \u2062vulnerability of AVs to\u200c cyberattacks.<\/p>\n<p>A spokesperson for Waymo responded, stating that the company prioritizes transparency \u2064and collaboration \u2062with policymakers. \u2064They assured that Waymo has been\u2064 working closely with City Hall, first\u200d responders, and transportation agencies to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/california-dmv-suspends-cruises-driverless-car-permit-over-safety-concerns\/\" title=\"California DMV suspends Cruise's driverless-car permit over safety concerns\">improve\u200b road safety<\/a> and support the region&#8217;s transportation \u200cgoals.<\/p>\n<p>Cruise, on the other hand, did \u200dnot immediately comment \u200don the motion.<\/p>\n<p>Chris Griswold of the Teamsters union, representing drivers and workers, joined \u2062Soto-Martinez at the news conference, highlighting the potential job loss associated with AV \u2063technology.<\/p>\n<p>Soto-Martinez is urging Los Angeles to join San Francisco&#8217;s ongoing lawsuit against the California Public Utilities Commission, which seeks to revise the permits granted to Cruise\u200d and Waymo for robotaxis. The motion emphasizes the need for benchmarking standards\u200c and careful expansion of AV operations in urban contexts.<\/p>\n<p>The motion, co-authored by council members Nithya Raman, Imelda\u200b Padilla, and Heather Hutt,\u2063 will now\u2063 proceed to the Transportation Committee and the Rules, Elections, and Intergovernmental Relations Committee for consideration in November.<\/p>\n<div class=\"post-figure\">\n<figure style=\"width:600px\" class=\"alignnone\"><figcaption>  A Waymo \u200crider-only robotaxi is seen during a\u2062 test ride in San Francisco on\u200b Dec. 9, \u200c2022.\u2064 (Paresh Dave\/Reuters)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<h2>California Suspends Cruise Permit<\/h2>\n<p>On Tuesday, the \u200bCalifornia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) announced the suspension \u2064of Cruise&#8217;s robotaxi \u200dpermits. The DMV cited Cruise&#8217;s failure to \u200cprovide video footage of a pedestrian accident in San Francisco as \u200da reason for the suspension.<\/p>\n<p>Cruise\u2062 maintains that it shared the full video\u200c with the DMV and other agencies and is actively\u200d working on improving its autonomous vehicle responses.<\/p>\n<p>The DMV has given\u2062 Cruise remedies to reinstate its permits, but the company\u2064 has paused its driverless operations in San\u2064 Francisco. However, \u200dits services in Arizona and\u200d Texas remain unaffected by California&#8217;s decision.<\/p>\n<p>The incident under\u2063 review involved a woman\u2064 who \u2062was \u200bhit by a human-driven car and then struck by \u2062a Cruise driverless vehicle. She was \u2062trapped \u200cunder the robotaxi and had to be freed by first responders.<\/p>\n<p>Waymo, Google&#8217;s main competitor, will continue operating \u200cand testing its autonomous cars in San Francisco. Additionally, \u2063Waymo is\u200c launching autonomous vehicles in various Los Angeles neighborhoods as part\u2062 of a campaign.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<em>Jill McLaughlin contributed to this report.<\/em>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> How can the AV \u2062industry collaborate with policymakers and stakeholders to\u2064 ensure transparency and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/terry-mcauliffe-ripped-for-tweet-saying-it-should-be-easier-to-vote-than-buy-a-gun\/\" title=\"Terry McAuliffe Ripped For Tweet Saying It Should Be Easier To Vote Than Buy A Gun\">prioritize public safety<\/a>,\u2063 as emphasized by Waymo&#8217;s statement and the potential lack of immediate comment\u200d from Cruise\u2064 on the motion<\/h2>\n<p><span>  Ng legal battle \u200bagainst the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). The CPUC currently regulates ride-hailing services, including autonomous vehicles, in the state. \u2064San Francisco City Attorney \u2063Dennis Herrera filed a lawsuit last month, arguing that the CPUC\u2064 is not doing enough to ensure public safety in the testing\u2064 and deployment of AVs.<\/p>\n<p>The introduction of AV technology\u2064 holds great promise\u2062 for the \u2062future of transportation. \u2062It \u200bhas the potential to reduce traffic congestion, decrease \u200bthe number of accidents caused by human error, and \u200cprovide greater mobility \u200coptions \u2062for individuals\u2062 with disabilities or limited access to \u2063transportation. However, these benefits\u200d should not come at the expense of\u2063 public safety.<\/p>\n<p>City\u2063 Councilman Soto-Martinez&#8217;s call to\u2063 action is a necessary step in ensuring that \u200cLos \u200dAngeles becomes a responsible and safe testing ground for AVs. As \u2063the second-largest \u200dcity\u2062 in the United\u2063 States, Los Angeles has a unique opportunity to set an example for other municipalities and establish robust \u200cregulations that \u200bprioritize the well-being of its residents.<\/p>\n<p>One\u200d of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/anti-abortion-advocates-sue-ohio-secretary-of-state-over-abortion-amendment\/\" title=\"Ohio secretary of state faces lawsuit by anti-abortion advocates over abortion amendment.\">key concerns raised<\/a> \u2064by\u200d Soto-Martinez is the \u2063alarming increase in safety incidents involving AVs. Recent news articles highlight examples such as a GM Cruise \u2062robotaxi crashing into a bus \u2064and the California DMV \u200crevoking Cruise&#8217;s\u200b driverless \u200ctesting permits due to safety concerns. These \u200dincidents underscore the need for stricter \u200dregulations \u2062and more comprehensive testing protocols.<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, Soto-Martinez&#8217;s mention of the vulnerability of AVs to\u200d cyberattacks is \u200ba crucial point that cannot be overlooked. As technology advances, so \u200bdoes the potential for malicious actors to exploit vulnerabilities in autonomous\u2063 systems. It is imperative that regulations adequately address these cybersecurity risks and ensure that AVs\u200b are equipped with robust \u200bsecurity measures.<\/p>\n<p>Waymo&#8217;s statement \u200bemphasizing \u200btransparency and collaboration is encouraging. It shows that the company is willing\u2063 to work\u2063 with policymakers\u2062 and stakeholders \u200dto address concerns and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/another-2-trillion-here-are-the-key-components-of-bidens-massive-infrastructure-plan\/\" title=\"Another  Trillion: Here Are The Key Components of Biden\u2019s Massive Infrastructure Plan\">improve road safety<\/a>. However,\u200d Cruise&#8217;s lack of immediate comment on the motion raises questions about\u2063 their commitment to public safety and collaboration. It \u200cis essential\u2062 for all companies involved\u2062 in AV development to prioritize transparency\u200d and dialogue with regulators \u200bto foster trust and ensure the responsible deployment of this technology.<\/p>\n<p>The involvement \u200bof the Teamsters union in this issue \u200bfurther highlights the potential impact\u2063 of AV technology on jobs. While AVs have the potential \u2062to revolutionize transportation, it is crucial that measures are in\u200b place to \u200bsupport workers who may be \u200caffected by the transition to autonomous systems. This includes job training and opportunities for reemployment to minimize disruptions\u200c in\u2064 the labor \u200cmarket.<\/p>\n<p>Ultimately,\u2063 City Councilman \u200cSoto-Martinez&#8217;s call to action should serve\u2063 as a\u2062 wake-up call for the entire AV industry. It \u2063is a reminder that \u2064public safety should always be paramount, \u200cand that technological advancements should be accompanied by strong regulations and accountability. By joining San Francisco&#8217;s lawsuit\u200d and advocating for stronger regulations, \u2063Los \u2064Angeles has the opportunity to shape a future\u200c where AVs coexist harmoniously with \u2063human drivers, improving mobility while \u2062prioritizing \u2064the well-being \u200dof its residents.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Los Angeles City Councilman Hugo Soto-Martinez urged the city attorney to join a lawsuit against a state commission, aiming to address public safety concerns regarding autonomous vehicles (AVs) and control the growth of robotaxis in Los Angeles. Soto-Martinez emphasized the need for action in both areas.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":410,"featured_media":2081396,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[543],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2081395","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-epoch-times"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2081395","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/410"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2081395"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2081395\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2081396"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2081395"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2081395"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2081395"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}