Photo by SFMTA Photography
Following the adoption of the Transportation Authority’s Conceptual Safety-Focused Autonous Vehicle Permitting Framework Final Report, Transportation Authority staff have been working with legislators and providing input to state and federal regulators to promote increased data reporting and performance-based permitting of autonomous vehicles.
The need for greater AV transparency and oversight was brought to the forefront on December 20, 2025, when power outages disrupted traffic lights across the city and autonomous Waymo vehicles stalled on roadways. In response, District 5 Transportation Authority Board Member Bilal Mahmood called for a hearing to investigate PG&E and Waymo’s performance, including preparedness, communication, and response times. This incident highlighted critical questions about how ready AVs, regulators, and cities are to handle resilience events.
Federal Legislation on AV Safety
On January 13, the House Energy and Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade held a hearing that focused on a package of legislative proposals on Autonomous Vehicle regulation and data reporting, among other AV topics.
The hearing considered two bills sponsored by Representative Kevin Mullin related to autonomous vehicles and driver technology. Transportation Authority staff provided input on both bills, which focus on data collection, transparency, and studying the safety implications of emerging technologies.
H.R. 4376 - AV Safety Data Act (Representative Mullin)
This bill requires AV companies to publicly share data about the number of miles driverless cars are driving and when there are incidents like unplanned stops or the blocking of emergency vehicles. Requiring this type of consistent data reporting would help compare safety rates across various operators and help determine whether AVs are safer than human drivers.
H.R. 3360 - Driver Technology and Pedestrian Safety Act (Representative Mullin)
This bill examines the safety implications of modern in-vehicle technologies. It requires the U.S. Department of Transportation to examine the impact of driver-controlled technologies, such as in-vehicle touch screens, on motor vehicle safety and submit a report to Congress on the findings and recommendations. This bill addresses growing concerns about driver distraction from increasingly complex dashboard interfaces and touchscreen controls in modern vehicles.
In February, the Transportation Authority board will consider our 2026 State and Federal Advocacy Program, including positions on emerging mobility and autonomous vehicles, among other priorities.
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