L.A. officials seek authority to create regulations for robot cabs

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said the city should be allowed to set its own rules for robot taxis, not state agencies.

Here's What We Know

The occasion was the expansion of Waymo's robotaxi service in Los Angeles. In a letter to the California Public Utilities Commission, Bass argues that the city has all the tools to effectively regulate such services. In her view, Los Angeles should determine its own requirements for robotaxi deployment.

Bass disagreed with City Council members who urged the companies not to worry about safety and jobs. Instead, the mayor wants to maximise the pros and mitigate the harms of new technology.

The letter highlights that local governments have had little involvement in the development of robotaxis so far, though they have already encountered problems. Bass cited an incident in Los Angeles where a driverless car behind the wheel ignored a traffic cop.

According to the mayor, control over robotaxis should move to the local level. That could make it harder for companies like Waymo, which has already started operations in the city, to expand.

Source: TechCrunch