California Bill Would Require Human Safety Drivers for Autonomous Large Trucks

A similar bill was vetoed last year, but supporters said they still see a need to keep streets safe and protect drivers’ jobs.

A self-driving truck on display at the ITS World Congress on Intelligent Transport Systems and Services held in Hamburg, northern Germany, on Oct. 13, 2021. Axel Heimken/AFP via Getty Images

Despite the veto of a similar bill last year, California lawmakers are again trying to ban large autonomous trucks from operating without a driver behind the wheel.

Under the legislation, autonomous vehicles that weigh more than 10,000 pounds would be barred from operating on public roads without a human safety operator inside, whether the vehicles are transporting goods or passengers, or just driving for testing purposes.