Council to explore autonomous vehicle safety standards

Earlier this month, City of St. Petersburg officials met with Waymo representatives for an initial meet and greet. Waymo, a subsidiary of Google parent company Alphabet, Inc., develops autonomous vehicles and oversees rideshare services across the country. 

For St. Petersburg City Council member Corey Givens Jr., there are many benefits to self-driving technology. However, if a service comes to St. Petersburg, rules must be put in place. 

At its Thursday meeting, the City Council unanimously voted to explore regulatory frameworks and standards for autonomous vehicles. Givens submitted the request. 

Waymo does not currently have plans to serve Pinellas County. However, the company is interested in “expanding their operations” into the area, according to City of St. Petersburg spokesperson Samantha Bequer. 

“I think it’s definitely time for us to have this conversation,” Givens told the Catalyst. “Florida cities have been having conversations across the state regarding safety and regulation, but I think it’s time to do it in St. Petersburg with it getting so close.” 

Givens said that he believes organizations like Waymo could be an asset to residents. 

“Autonomous vehicles can improve traffic flow,” he explained. “They can offer better mobility. Having self-driving technology can sometimes provide a sense of independence for those older adults, people with disabilities as well as low income residents.” 

Givens added that driverless cars commit “fewer human errors.” For example, they do not operate under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Additionally, the technology does not get distracted or fatigued. 

However, he did express concerns about how a service would operate. 

“With us being preempted every which way, we have to be able to control what we can control,” Givens said. “For one, state law really regulates rideshare in Florida. So, local councils are limited with the direct power that we have over those rules. That’s why cities have to really set compliance when it comes to local traffic laws.” 

He believes it’s the municipality’s responsibility to work with the St. Petersburg Police Department with regard to oversight and enforcement. For example, Givens said that the City will need to consider how wrong-way vehicles are handled. 

“There are definitely a lot of concerns nationally about Waymo navigating around flooded streets and school buses,” he explained. “It’s become a huge debate across all kinds of city governments and traffic safety experts. I think it’s time for us to plan ahead and be proactive, rather than reactive.” 

With the Thursday approval, the new business item will be brought to the Housing, Land Use and Transportation Committee or other relevant committee. 

Givens expects that council members will discuss efficiency benefits as well as “unresolved challenges and risks.” He hopes that a Stormwater, Pavement and Traffic Operations Department representative will share insights on the future of driverless cars in the city. Infrastructure, Givens believes, will be a key part of the conversation. 

“There’s pros, but cons as well,” he said. “The vehicles are still experiencing software glitches. They have blind spots. There are occasional accidents. So, I think raising public trust and accountability are the things I want to do right now.”