WHEREAS, Autonomous or “driverless” vehicles are rapidly expanding in cities across the United States, including pilot programs and commercial operations in dense urban environments; and
WHEREAS, Philadelphia’s transportation network includes narrow streets, aging infrastructure, heavy pedestrian traffic, complex intersections, and challenging weather conditions that present unique safety considerations for autonomous vehicle operations; and
WHEREAS, Since 2021, autonomous vehicles operating nationally have been involved in numerous reported crashes, roadway obstructions, and software-related incidents that raise unresolved public safety concerns; and
WHEREAS, Federal oversight alone has proven insufficient to address localized safety risks, labor impacts, traffic congestion, and emergency response coordination associated with autonomous vehicles; and
WHEREAS, Over 60,000 Philadelphians rely on driving-based work, including taxi, rideshare, and delivery services, and the unregulated deployment of autonomous vehicles threatens to displace workers without clear labor protections or transition plans; and
WHEREAS, Pennsylvania currently lacks a comprehensive statewide regulatory framework governing autonomous vehicle deployment, safety reporting requirements, data transparency, labor impact mitigation, and coordination with municipal governments; and
WHEREAS, State-level regulation would provide clarity, accountability, and consistency while ensuring that municipalities like Philadelphia retain a meaningful role in protecting public safety and local economies; and
WHEREAS, A formal review process conducted by the Commonwealth would allow policymakers to evaluate real-world safety data, labor impacts, infrastructure readiness, and equity considerations before allowing widespread deployment; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Hereby calls on the Pennsylvania General Assembly to investigate and establish regulations and guidelines for driverless rideshare vehicles operating in Philadelphia and throughout the Commonwealth
End