(ALBANY, NEW YORK) – The Teamsters are commending New York State Senator Pete Harckham (Democrat-40th District) for introducing legislation (S.7758) that would require a trained human Operator to be physically present in any autonomous vehicle weighing 10,000 pounds or more on New York roads.

If passed, S.7758 would ensure public safety and protect hundreds of thousands of good jobs in New York State, Union Officials said.

The Bill comes as driverless vehicles have wreaked havoc on public roads across the country over the past year, causing accidents, blocking traffic, and interfering with First Responders.

A woman in San Francisco was seriously injured by a Cruise Robo-Taxi after the vehicle struck and dragged her for 20 feet.

Teamsters Local 456 President Louis Picani said: “The Teamsters applaud Senator Harckham for introducing legislation that will keep New York roads safe.  Last year, we saw the damage that small robo-taxis can cause to the public, from sending pedestrians to the hospital to preventing Emergency Responders from doing their jobs.  To allow AVs weighing ten times more than robo-taxis onto New York roads without a trained human Operator behind the wheel would be lethal. The New York Legislature needs to put safety first and join Senator Harckham in passing S.7758 into State Law.  This Bill will save lives.”

In addition to prioritizing safety, S.7758 will also protect the livelihoods of Truckers and other Workers supported by the New York Trucking Industry, which is responsible for 270,000 jobs in the State, including about 58,300 current Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers.

Tom Gesualdi, President of Teamsters Local 282 and Teamsters Joint Council 16, said S.7758 “isn’t just about protecting lives, it’s about protecting livelihoods.”

“This Bill would ensure that good jobs stay in New York, with the people that keep our state up and running.  We’re grateful to Senator Harckham for introducing this legislation and putting New Yorkers before Big Tech.  Safety and good jobs are issues that everyone can get behind and that’s why electeds on both sides of the aisle have stood up in support of common-sense AVs safety measures across the country.  The Teamsters urge New York State Lawmakers to do the same and pass S.7758,” he said.

Senator Harckham said: “The integral role of the Trucking Industry in our lives means we have to be pro-active and vigilant about public safety and job security when it comes to technological innovations like autonomous operating vehicles.  My Bill requires autonomous vehicles weighing (10,000) pounds or more traveling on New York roads have a licensed driver behind the wheel.  This common-sense measure will ensure greater protection for residents and property while providing job security for over (270,000) New Yorkers.  I am thankful to Louis Picani and Teamsters everywhere for supporting this legislation.”

The Teamsters represent 1.3 million Members in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico.

To Directly Access This Labor News Report, Go To: Teamsters Commend N.Y. State Sen. Harckham for Introducing Human Operator Legislation - International Brotherhood of Teamsters