Carson City, NV — Recently introduced legislation would ban autonomous trucks and buses weighing more than 26,000 pounds from being tested or operated on Nevada highways without a trained human operator on board.
Under the bill (S.B. 395), sponsored by Sen. James Ohrenschall (D-Las Vegas), the operator would be required to have a commercial driver’s license, be trained in operating and shutting off the vehicle, and be seated in a position to take over manual controls in the event of an automated driving system failure or other emergency.
The bill would also apply to autonomous vehicles with more than two axles, as well as those that can transport eight or more passengers.
A pair of Teamsters Union councils support the bill.
“For big tech companies to think they can come into any state and replace the jobs of hardworking union members with this dangerous and inferior technology is an insult to professional drivers everywhere,” Peter Finn, president of Teamsters Joint Council 7, said in a press release. “S.B. 395 is critical to protecting the middle class. That is why we are demanding that Nevada lawmakers vote in favor of this legislation.”
The bill, introduced March 17 in the Senate, has been referred to the Senate Growth and Infrastructure Committee. If signed into law, it would go into effect no later than Oct. 1.
