California Governor Gavin Newsom has vetoed two important bills. One was about banning autonomous trucks, the other focused on improving road safety.
Gavin Newsom Vetoes Autonomous Truck Ban (Assembly Bill 2286)
Governor Newsom vetoed Assembly Bill 2286. This bill aimed to limit the use of autonomous trucks. It was part of the California Automotive Regulatory Standards (CARS) package. The bill required a human driver for trucks weighing over 10,000 pounds. This would have stopped the use of autonomous trucks in California.
Last year, Governor Newsom blocked a similar bill: AB 316. It also aimed to restrict autonomous trucks.
In his veto message, Governor Newsom said the state can protect workers while advancing technology. He noted that California leads the nation in worker protection. But, it is also a leader in technology.
“Recognizing that our workforce is the foundation of our economic success, California leads the nation with some of the strongest worker protection laws,” Newsom said. “Our state also is renowned globally as a leader in technological innovation. We reject that one aim must yield to the other, and our success disproves this false binary.”
Support for the Veto of AB 2286
Many groups supported the veto. These included safety advocates, business organizations, and logistics companies. They felt that Assembly Bill 2286 would have slowed the progress of autonomous trucks. The California DMV had just introduced new safety rules for autonomous trucks. They believed this bill would have blocked the trucks permanently.
Some argued that autonomous trucks could improve safety. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that 43,000 people died in traffic accidents in 2022. Many of these accidents were caused by human error. Autonomous trucks might help reduce these accidents.
Others also worried about the costs of the bill. They believed it could cost the state millions of dollars. It could also put California behind other states that are already using autonomous trucks. These trucks could help solve supply chain problems and improve road safety.
Governor Newsom also vetoed Senate Bill 936. This bill was about improving safety on California’s most dangerous roads. It was introduced by Senator Kelly Seyarto. The bill required the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) to find the 15 most dangerous places on California highways. The plan was to suggest ways to improve safety by 2026.
Senator Seyarto said traffic accidents are a major cause of injury and death in California. Traffic deaths went up by 22% between 2019 and 2022. He also said that these accidents cost Californians $166 billion in 2022. The bill aimed to focus on fixing these dangerous areas.
Newsom’s Reason for Vetoing SB 936
Governor Newsom explained why he vetoed SB 936 in his veto letter. He said Caltrans is already working to make roads safer. They use a method called the Safe System Approach. This method looks at all parts of road safety. It includes building safer roads and providing better care after accidents.
“While I support efforts to expedite traffic safety enhancements, this bill conflicts with Caltrans’ data-driven approach to identifying and developing a holistic traffic safety framework for its projects,” Newsom wrote. He also said that focusing only on the number of crashes would not solve the biggest problems. Other factors, like how serious the crashes are, also matter.
Newsom said lawmakers should work with Caltrans to continue improving safety. He pointed out that the California Strategic Highway Safety Plan already addresses many of the goals in SB 936.
