'Attack on our way of life': Debate around autonomous vehicles heats up in Boston

'Attack on our way of life': Debate around autonomous vehicles heats up in Boston

Briefly

"Supporters and skeptics packed City Hall Tuesday to weigh in during a City Council hearing on the matter. Councilors are evaluating a proposed ordinance that would require a "comprehensive, public, and participatory study" before commercial AV services are launched in Boston. The ordinance would establish an advisory board to evaluate the introduction of AVs and provide guidance to the mayor."

"Notably, the proposed ordinance would also require that AVs operating in Boston have a "human safety operator" physically present inside the AV to monitor its performance and take over control if necessary. Waymo, the AV company already operating in major cities like San Francisco and Phoenix, deployed testing vehicles to map streets in Boston and surrounding areas in the spring. Although Waymo has not announced official plans to launch in Boston, representatives from the company are engaged with local stakeholders."

"But councilors expressed deep skepticism at a similar hearing earlier this year, and a new coalition of union members has formed to oppose AV deployment. Some councilors joined labor leaders for a rally outside City Hall before the hearing on Tuesday to push back on the "unchecked expansion" of AVs. Councilors declined to take a vote on the proposed ordinance Wednesday, and more public hearings are likely. The exact language of the ordinance could still change before any laws are enacted."