Title
Autonomous Vehicle Labor and Community Protections.
Body
WHEREAS, autonomous vehicle companies are expanding into new markets, including the Twin Cities, and commercial driverless services may soon operate in Saint Paul; and
WHEREAS, Saint Paul currently lacks a comprehensive local framework governing commercial autonomous vehicle operations; and
WHEREAS, autonomous vehicles could significantly affect transportation workers, including many immigrant workers and workers of color who rely on driving income to support their families; and
WHEREAS, residents and policymakers have raised questions about autonomous vehicle safety, implications for labor standards and worker protections, emergency response, accessibility, and accountability; and
WHEREAS, autonomous vehicles use cameras, sensors, and other technologies that collect information about their surroundings, raising questions about how that data is collected, stored, retained, used, shared, and disclosed;
WHEREAS, autonomous vehicle operations will also affect traffic, public infrastructure, transit, pedestrians, bicyclists, and other users of Saint Paul's transportation system;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Saint Paul City Council establishes the following principles to guide consideration of future commercial autonomous vehicle operations in Saint Paul:
- Protect Workers: The City should pursue labor standards, worker protections, and workforce transition strategies for workers whose livelihoods may be affected by autonomous vehicles.
- Prioritize Safety and Accountability: Any potential autonomous vehicle operations should meet clear standards for public safety, emergency response, winter weather, accessibility, transparency, and accountability, and should comply with applicable traffic and parking laws.
- Protect Data: The City should establish clear guidelines for the collection, storage, retention, use, sharing, and disclosure of data collected by autonomous vehicles.
- Prote...
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