Council Hails Ruling on Driverless Vehicles in San Francisco

In a big win for transportation innovation, expanded mobility options and safer streets, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) yesterday (August 10) voted to allow Bay Area Council members Waymo and Cruise to offer driverless ride-hailing services in San Francisco. The Council advocated strongly for the ruling ahead of the vote and Vice President Emily Loper testified in support of the resolution that now allows anyone to hail a fully autonomous car to travel anywhere within San Francisco. Hundreds of supporters spoke in favor of the safety benefits of the technology and its ability to dramatically improve mobility for those who cannot drive or for whom public transit is inconvenient.

Watch Emily Loper’s driverless car experience>>

These vehicles have driven millions of miles without a single reported injury, whereas traffic fatalities and injuries by human drivers in San Francisco have only risen in recent years. The Council is proud that San Francisco is home to this innovation that will transform how we move around, and we applaud the CPUC’s decision to allow these companies to provide these many safety, mobility, and climate benefits to San Francisco. The vehicles are regulated by the state – both the CPUC and the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) – and have proceeded through a reasonable regulatory approval process.