![]() At the same time, many smaller or lower-income jurisdictions are especially interested in AVs to supplement limited public transit or paratransit options. The resources and finances of California’s cities are challenged enough as it is and many would not be able to put in place appropriate safety regulations. Think about it: not every city has the resources or technical expertise to craft AV ordinances. The bill also creates new problems for cities. ![]() It’s not accessible transportation if their homes, jobs, schools, or other destinations are located in cities that haven’t or won’t authorize AVs. ![]() There’s no meaningful independence if residents with disabilities are limited to specific routes or to service in specific cities. The blind and low-vision, people with disabilities, senior citizens, and other underserved communities would miss out on the improved accessibility and convenience AVs offer. This legislation is a serious equity problem for Californians. Furthermore, autonomous rides offer dramatically enhanced accessibility to independence and a higher quality of life, taking advantage of all that California has to offer: culture, nature, restaurants, shopping, friends, family, and more. Research from the National Disability Institute found that AVs will open new job opportunities for people with disabilities, while increasing U.S. Americans with disabilities are twice as likely to be unemployed, with only 21% workforce participation rate. Either way, Californians lose.Īutonomous vehicles are game changers for people with disabilities who are not served by current transportation options. SB 915 will cause a patchwork of AV regulation that stymies the benefits of the technology as some cities will not put regulations in place and others will impose rules that are so complex that AVs are effectively not able to operate. Under SB 915, an AV would be prohibited from this route until each and every jurisdiction passed an ordinance. An autonomous ride from Fremont to the San Francisco Airport passes through as many as 10 cities. Senate Bill 915 mandates that AV technology already approved by the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) receive additional authorizations from every single city in which they operate. This especially hurts the 797,300 blind Californians who can’t get a license – the very people who are among the main beneficiaries of the accessibility and independence AVs can provide. That’s the gridlock scenario facing Californians with a new bill that would put the brakes on autonomous vehicles (AVs) throughout the state. Imagine needing a new driver’s license every time you crossed a city line.
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