Teamsters Demand CPUC Suspend Waymo License After Child Hit by Robotaxi

Concerns Rise as NHTSA Investigates Incident Involving Waymo's Autonomous Vehicle

(SANTA MONICA, Calif.) – A recent development has put autonomous vehicle safety under scrutiny. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has commenced an investigation into Waymo following an alarming incident where one of its driverless taxis reportedly hit a child. This occurrence has prompted urgent calls from Teamsters California for regulatory action.

Peter Finn and Victor Mineros, Co-Chairs of Teamsters California, expressed their concerns, stating, "The revelation that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) opened an investigation into Waymo after one of its robotaxis struck a small child should be a horrifying wake up call for California policymakers who have repeatedly ignored the growing list of red flags concerning robotaxis."

The incident sheds light on a broader concern about the impact of AI and automation on employment. Critics argue that Big Tech's push towards automation threatens jobs, potentially leading millions towards unemployment. Finn and Mineros argue that these technologies not only jeopardize workers’ livelihoods but also pose safety risks to the public, including children.

Adding to the concern, Waymo’s vehicles have reportedly been ignoring school bus stop signs, despite a software recall and ongoing NHTSA investigations. There have been calls from parents, teachers, and community members to keep these vehicles out of school zones, but it appears these warnings have not been heeded by Waymo or its parent company, Google.

In response to these ongoing safety concerns, Teamsters California urges the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to suspend Waymo’s operational license in the state. They emphasized, "Being a parent is hard enough — nobody should have to worry about a driverless car putting their child in danger. The CPUC must do its job and intervene now, because the next incident could be much worse."

Teamsters California represents 250,000 workers across various industries who are vital to the state’s economy and communities. More information can be found at teamstersca.org.