An outraged San Francisco supervisor says it’s time to put the brakes on robotaxis.
The call comes as residents in Supervisor Jackie Fielder’s district mourn the death of a beloved neighborhood cat that was struck by a Waymo car. Fielder says it’s about having local control over the future of self-driving cars.
The story of “Kit Kat,” a well-known shop cat in the Mission District killed by a Waymo self-driving car went viral. And now a Fielder will introduce a resolution to try to return more power to residents over where Waymo and other robotaxis can operate.
Kit Kat was killed last week in front of the Roxy Theater on 16th Street. By Waymo’s own admission, the car pulled out and ran over the cat without stopping.
“We send our deepest sympathies to the cat’s owner and the community who knew and loved him, and we will be making a donation to a local animal rights organization in his honor,” Waymo said in a statement.
Fielder says Kit Kat’s death highlights the need for local communities to have a say in whether Waymo should drive their streets. It’s something state Sen. Dave Cortese has pushed repeatedly.
Self-driving cars are regulated by the state — the Department of Motor Vehicles and the California Public Utilities Commission.
“I will be introducing a resolution calling on Gov. Newsom and the California Legislature to give us voters say on our local ballots at the county level to have a say over the future of autonomous vehicles,” Fielder said.
Fielder will attend a rally before Tuesday’s supervisors meeting when she will introduce her resolution.
Source: NBC Bay Area