California bill would require human safety operators in autonomous delivery vehicles during deployment

Assemblymember Aghiar Curry introduced AB 33 to the Senate Transportation Committee, asking lawmakers to require a qualified human safety operator in autonomous vehicles (AVs) used for commercial delivery during deployment and testing.

Curry told the committee the measure is intended to protect public safety while allowing AV technology to be tested and deployed with legislative oversight. “This bill allows AV technology to move forward, but it requires a qualified human safety operator in AVs used for commercial deliveries,” Curry said. She cited incidents in San Francisco in which driverless AVs blocked traffic, interfered with emergency response, and one case in which a pedestrian was dragged under a vehicle in which footage was not initially shared with authorities.

The bill’s supporters included labor unions and safety advocates who described the measure as a “guardrail” to protect workers and communities while companies test delivery AVs. Tammy Friedrich, president of the Truck Safety Coalition, said human operators provide an extra safety layer and criticized AV manufacturers’ transparency. “At this point in time, human safety operators are not optional and allowing these commercial delivery vehicles to operate without them is needlessly reckless,” Friedrich said.

Matt Bridal, representing the Teamsters, said the latest draft of AB 33 was narrowed after industry feedback and is not limited by vehicle weight thresholds used in prior bills. Bridal…