In response to hazardous cases of autonomous vehicles (AV) blocking emergency responders from helping people in danger, driving through construction zones, failing during power outages, and contributing to large-scale traffic jams, U.S. Rep. Kevin Mullin (CA-15) introduced the AV Emergency Response Coordination Act. Read more in a news release here and watch a press conference below.   

The list of incidents involving emergency responders is mounting in cities across the United States where driverless vehicles are operating, including in Austin, Pheonix, Las Vegas, Dallas, San Francisco and others. Across these locations, there have been reports of AVs obstructing ambulances and paramedics, driving into active crime scenes, blocking fire trucks, and failing to recognize basic safety conditions like flashing lights, flares, smoke, and traffic cones. AV companies are also not providing sufficient information and training to emergency responders to ensure the safety of vehicle occupants, pedestrians, and other road users when there are collisions, malfunctions, and other incidents involving AVs. 

Rep. Mullin’s AV Emergency Response Coordination Act is the first legislation of its kind to directly address this issue, which has bipartisan interest. The Trump Administration’s NHTSA Administrator Jonathan Morrison recently sent a letter to AV companies demanding that they address the issue of AVs interfering with first responders and law enforcement. 

Specifically, the AV Emergency Response Coordination Act would:  

• Require AV companies to provide clear, standardized emergency response protocols for first responders;  

• Establish a 24/7 hotline for public officials to communicate directly with AV companies during autonomous vehicle incidents; 

• Direct NHTSA to develop minimum national emergency response standards across AV operators; and 

• Create a process for public officials to issue “geofence notices” so that AVs avoid certain areas during an emergency or while there is an ongoing safety hazard. 

A copy of the full AV Emergency Response Coordination Act text can be found here.