Governor Gavin Newsom and State Senators Urged to Reject AB316
Pressure is mounting on Governor Gavin Newsom and State Senators to reject Assembly Bill 316 (AB316) as the Senate Transportation Committee meets today to discuss the bill.
If enacted, AB316 would ban autonomous trucks in the state until approved by a convoluted political process. This will impede the progress of autonomous truck development, which can be a vital tool for enhancing road safety and sustainability.
Here’s what it would take to operate an autonomous truck in California if AB316 is enacted.
Six retired CHP officers made a strong statement today in an open letter published in the Sacramento Bee. They urged Governor Gavin Newsom and California State Senators to reject AB316. The retired officers emphasized the importance of trusting the expertise of road safety professionals at the California Highway Patrol (CHP) and Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). They highlighted how autonomous trucks can eliminate factors that cause crashes and stressed the need to find a way to implement this transformative technology.
An open letter published in today's Sacramento Bee, written by retired CHP officers, urges Governor Newsom and State Senators to oppose AB316.
They are not the only ones expressing their concerns. Prominent business groups have said the bill will have a detrimental effect on both the state's economy and the global supply chain. Given that California manages around 38% of the nation's exports, the passage of AB316 would compound the existing challenges caused by the shortage of approximately 80,000 truck drivers. This shortage has already led to port congestion in California and has contributed to inflationary pressures.
Voters think AB316 is taking the wrong approach, too. According to a recent poll:
88% of voters say that regulatory bodies like the CHP and DMV are the most knowledgeable about the risk and benefits of autonomous commercial semi-trucks compared to just 12% who say elected lawmakers are the most knowledgeable.
With 67% of California voters concerned about businesses moving out of state and overall concerns about the economy, there is a recognition that autonomous commercial semi-trucks can be a boost to California’s economy. Fully 58% of registered voters agree/42% disagree that “in the future, autonomous commercial semi-trucks will positively impact the economy.”*
If AB316 becomes law, the result will be an arbitrary ban on technology that can deliver future safety, environmental and economic benefits to Californians. Instead, we need to trust experts at CHP and the DMV to evaluate autonomous truck technology and decide on the appropriate rules.
*Methodology: Survey of 1,001 registered voters in California conducted from May 18-25, 2023. Margin of error is +/- 3%.
