California Signs Law Requiring Robotaxi Operators to Support Emergency Responders

The measure covers autonomous vehicle technology companies including Tesla, Waymo and Zoox. Under the law, those firms must provide first responders with local, on-the-ground support when their robotaxis cause problems on the road.

The rules are designed to improve safety and shorten response times in situations where an autonomous vehicle becomes disabled or interferes with emergency crews. The legislation also establishes mechanisms to hold operators accountable when they fail to meet the new obligations.

San Francisco has become a testing ground for the technology, with dozens or even hundreds of Waymo robotaxis operating across the city on a typical day and drawing little disruption. Incidents have nonetheless been documented in which robotaxis impeded traffic, drove into crime scenes and interfered with first responders. Similar problems have been reported outside the Bay Area.

In some of those cases, companies have depended on emergency personnel themselves to move stranded robotaxis out of the way. The law creates a penalty structure when a robotaxi blocks police or firefighters for longer than 30 minutes.

Newsom signed Senate Bill 1246 this week, placing the requirements on the books during the early phase of the robotaxi era. State officials framed the legislation as a way to get ahead of the problem before an expected next wave of autonomous vehicles reaches California roads.