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By Tes Welborn, HANC Board
The California Public Utilities Commission [CPUC] hearings August 7 and 10 were to decide whether or not robotaxis can now start charging, 24/7, for passenger rides throughout the city, with unlimited numbers of robotaxis in operation. The CPUC has the power to decide these questions, as the California Department of Motor Vehicles [DMV] has already permitted autonomous vehicles (AVs) to operate on city streets. And there are already 41 AV companies licensed to operate in California, though only Cruise and Waymo currently operate in San Francisco.
What are the issues?
- How many AVs to allow on San Francisco streets [and streets in our state]?
- Are AVs ready for mass deployment?
- What is the safety record of AVs?
- What do the San Francisco Fire Department and Police Department say about AVs?
- Are there industry standards for AVs and emergency services' communication needs?
- Are there industry standards about how to measure safety etc.?
- What is the impact on taxi drivers, and Uber/Lyft drivers, and Uber/Lyft investors?
- What is the impact on public transit of AVs?
- What is the climate impact of AVs?