New York state is pushing a bill to legalise robotaxis, but New York City is expected to remain an exception, TechCrunch reported on Tuesday.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul said in a New Year address that she would expand a state-level autonomous vehicle pilot programme and announced plans to introduce robotaxis. But robotaxi operations in New York City are expected to remain restricted.
Details of the bill have not yet been released. The state government said it is reviewing a plan to run robotaxis on a limited basis outside New York City. Companies seeking to operate commercial robotaxi services must meet safety standards and secure community support. TechCrunch reported it is unclear what "limited operations" and "top-tier safety standards" mean.
Under current New York state law, a driver must keep one hand on the steering wheel at all times. That is an obstacle to robotaxi operations, but exceptions may be allowed through autonomous vehicle pilot programmes.
Chigyu Hwang
delight@d-today.co.kr