Key facts
- A proposed bill, the AV Emergency Response Coordination Act, aims to establish federal safety standards for autonomous vehicle operators.
- The legislation follows incidents where autonomous vehicles have obstructed ambulances, fire trucks, and crime scenes.
- Key provisions include requiring 24-hour hotlines for public officials to contact AV companies and enabling geofencing of AVs during emergencies.
- NHTSA has previously noted a pattern of driverless AVs interfering with law enforcement and first responders.
Waymo and other robotaxi operators are under increased scrutiny and may face new federal requirements regarding their interaction with emergency responders. This regulatory risk is growing for the industry, highlighted by a proposed bill from Rep. Kevin Mullin (D-Calif.) that would direct federal regulators to establish minimum national safety standards for autonomous vehicle operators.
The proposed legislation, expected to be introduced in Congress, follows numerous incidents where autonomous vehicles have obstructed ambulances and fire trucks, entered active crime scenes, and failed to recognize safety signals. A TechCrunch investigation previously identified instances where Waymo vehicles required manual intervention from first responders.
During a press conference in San Francisco, Mullin stated that the number of incidents where autonomous vehicles interfere with emergency responders is "disturbing and, frankly, unacceptable." San Francisco Fire Chief Dean Crispen noted that robotaxis have been observed picking up and dropping off passengers in front of fire stations and ambulance deployment facilities, hindering emergency access.
The AV Emergency Response Coordination Act proposes requiring AV companies to provide clear emergency protocols, establish a 24-hour hotline for public officials, and direct the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to develop minimum national emergency response standards. A key provision would allow public officials to "geofence" AVs, limiting their operation during emergencies or safety hazards.
Waymo expressed support for a federal framework and standardization of how AV developers engage with first responders, stating their emergency protocols and training are critical components of their operations. NHTSA Administrator Jonathan Morrison had previously sent a letter to AV developers in early July, identifying a clear pattern of driverless AVs interfering with law enforcement and first responders, and demanding solutions by the end of the month.
San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie has also urged California regulators to strengthen rules for autonomous vehicles, citing a July 4 traffic jam caused by stranded Waymo robotaxis and a December power outage that led to dozens of stranded vehicles.