Boston city officials are working on a law that would require companies like Waymo, which is owned by Alphabet (GOOGL), to keep a human operator inside any self-driving ride-share vehicle operating in the city. The proposed ordinance would also require a formal study to assess how autonomous ride services could affect the jobs of current ride-share drivers. Until that study is finished and all necessary permits are issued, self-driving cars would not be allowed to operate in Boston without a human safety operator inside who can take control if needed.
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Notably, the city council may review the proposal at a meeting on Wednesday, but more public hearings are likely to occur before a final decision is made. As with most Boston legislation, the ordinance would first go through committee review and public input before it could be passed and signed by the mayor. Because of this process, the final wording of the law may change significantly before it becomes official. What’s interesting is that Boston has been a key city for autonomous vehicle development, as Hyundai-backed (HYMLF) Motional has been headquartered there and testing on public roads since 2016.
Waymo has also been mapping and testing in Boston as it prepares to expand its service. For context, the company currently operates fully driverless rides in five U.S. cities and argues that its technology improves safety. Still, local labor unions, including the Teamsters, have strongly opposed it. Nevertheless, nationwide expansion continues to be a complex issue for Waymo since autonomous vehicle laws vary widely across the U.S.
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