WHEREAS, Over 60,000 Philadelphians depend on income provided by rideshare rides to make a living, including thousands who supplement their salaries and pensions; and
WHEREAS, The entrance of driverless vehicles to the Philadelphia market threatens to destabilize our existing Taxi and ride-hailing industries and these new vehicles can only grow at the expense of existing service providers; and
WHEREAS, Data from cities where driverless vehicles operate shows significant harm to rideshare driver earnings, with hourly pay falling dramatically within one year; and
WHEREAS, Our Taxi and ride-hailing industries have become reliable, positive employment for newly arrived citizens and immigrant communities, who are disproportionately impacted by automation in the transportation sector; and
WHEREAS, Income earned by taxi and rideshare drivers is spent directly in Philadelphia neighborhoods, at local grocery stores, restaurants, childcare providers, and small businesses, creating an economic multiplier effect that benefits our entire community; and
WHEREAS, Philadelphia's taxi and rideshare drivers contribute to City tax revenues through wage taxes, business income and receipts taxes, and related economic activity, while driverless vehicles are operated by out-of-state corporations with no local employees, would generate significantly less tax revenue even as it displaces thousands of taxpaying workers; and
WHEREAS, Driverless cars may not be able to safely navigate our many narrow streets, aging traffic infrastructure, and challenging weather conditions, raising the potential for traffic disruption and public safety hazards; and
WHEREAS, Since July 2021, driverless vehicles have been involved in over 1,400 reported accidents, resulting in injuries and fatalities according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) crash data; and
WHEREAS, The NHTSA launched a second investigation into potential flaws in driverless vehicles, focusing on 31 incidents, including vehicles crashing into gates, driving on the wrong side of the road, at least 17 crashes or fires, and recently striking a child while driving through a school zone; and
WHEREAS, Driverless vehicles have been subject to multiple software recalls, including 672 vehicles in May 2024 after collisions with utility poles and 1,212 vehicles in May 2025 due to crashes with roadway barriers; and
WHEREAS, NHTSA is currently investigating at least 19 instances of driverless vehicles illegally passing stopped school buses with red lights flashing and stop arms extended, raising grave concerns about child safety: now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Hereby authorizes the Committee on Labor and Civil Service and the Committee on Transportation to hold hearings on the arrival and expansion of driverless vehicles in Philadelphia, examining its impact on employment, revenues, public safety, and our economy.
End