Teamsters Celebrate SB 915 Approval by L.A. County Supervisors

TL/DR -

The Teamsters union is advocating strongly for SB 915, a piece of legislation concerning autonomous vehicles, due to its focus on public safety and job protection. The bill, which has bipartisan support, was introduced by State Sen. Dave Cortese after the California Department of Motor Vehicles approved Waymo's application to expand its fleet. Despite concerns over accidents involving autonomous vehicles, the California Public Utilities Commission and the DMV have reportedly been reluctant to implement significant safety measures for these vehicles.

Elected Officials Join Teamsters for Job Security, Public Safety

Contact: Matt McQuaid, Phone: (617) 894-0669, Email: mmcquaid@teamster.org

SB 915, a key part of the CARS autonomous vehicles legislative package, has widespread bipartisan support. Teamsters advocate this bill in Sacramento to safeguard jobs and public safety.

"SB 915 is a safety-first bill and we appreciate L.A. County Board's unanimous support. We particularly thank Supervisors Lindsay Horvath and Janice Hahn for backing this resolution. Autonomous Vehicles (AVs) have caused chaos on our streets without adequate supervision. Local governments must have the right to decide how this new technology is used in their jurisdictions. We urge all California's leaders to support public safety by backing SB 915," says Chris Griswold, President of Teamsters Joint Council 42.

State Sen. Dave Cortese (D – San Jose) introduced SB 915 on January 9, 2024. This followed the California Dept. of Motor Vehicles (DMV) greenlighting Waymo’s fleet expansion into Los Angeles and San Francisco suburbs. If the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) approves, Waymo could operate round-the-clock on any road, including highways, despite incidents of robotaxis hitting pedestrians, blocking emergency services, narrowly missing children, and causing traffic pile-ups. Yet, the CPUC and DMV have declined to impose significant AV safety norms.

"SB 915 would empower local authorities to regulate automated vehicle services as they best understand their communities' needs. Local bodies are accustomed to controlling traffic, zoning, and construction, and they can work with local departments and law enforcement to ensure safety," said L.A. County Supervisor Kathryn Barger.

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.3 million hardworking individuals across the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. Visit the Teamster official website for more details. Follow us on Twitter @Teamsters and “like” us on Facebook.com/teamsters.

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