Key facts
- California enacted Senate Bill 1246, regulating autonomous vehicles.
- The law mandates AV companies provide local support for disabled vehicles.
- Penalties may be imposed if robotaxis block emergency responders for over 30 minutes.
- Remote drivers for AVs must be US-based and hold a US driver's license.
- AV developers must notify local jurisdictions of system-wide failures.
- The law takes effect in July 2028.
California has enacted new legislation aimed at managing the growing presence of robotaxis and improving their interaction with emergency services. Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 1246 into law this week, which introduces a series of regulations designed to enhance safety and response times when autonomous vehicles (AVs) encounter issues or interfere with first responders.
The law requires companies operating robotaxis, such as Waymo, Tesla, and Zoox, to provide on-the-ground support to emergency personnel when their vehicles cause problems. Failure to do so, or if a robotaxi obstructs police or firefighters for more than 30 minutes, could result in penalties.
Further stipulations include that remote drivers for AVs must be based in the United States and possess a U.S. driver's license. Companies will also be obligated to inform local authorities about vehicle locations and statuses during widespread system failures and to deploy "local incident technicians" to assist with AV-related accidents and obstructions.
The California Department of Motor Vehicles will be responsible for finalizing the details of the law, which is set to take effect in July 2028. While the effectiveness of the law in completely preventing robotaxi disruptions remains uncertain, it aims to reduce chaos and increase accountability.