Nationally recognized traffic safety advocate and attorney Amy Witherite warns the rapid expansion of autonomous vehicles could create a major national challenge for local police, firefighters and emergency medical crews as driverless services spread into more cities. First responders may be forced to learn how to deal with numerous companies using different vehicles, different technology and different emergency procedures.

The Texas Department of Public Safety currently lists 19 separate First Responder Interaction Plans covering 17 autonomous-vehicle companies. Tesla and Zoox each have two plans on file for different vehicles or operations.

“In an emergency, first responders should not have to sort through 19 different instruction manuals or waste precious time trying to reach an operator who may be out of town or out of the country,” Witherite said. “When seconds count, confusion, delay or a bad telephone number can have life-or-death consequences.”

The concern became more immediate after a recent review of the published plans found that emergency numbers in several plans were disconnected, unstaffed or incorrectly listed. The review tested the numbers in all 17 plans available at the time.

“A plan on a website is not a safety system unless the number works, a trained person answers immediately and the company can act without delay,” Witherite said. “Police officers and firefighters cannot be expected to become technical specialists for every new driverless vehicle placed on the road.”

The problem extends beyond telephone access. Autonomous vehicles may differ in how they detect emergency lights and sirens, respond to hand signals, enter a safe-stop mode, unlock doors, shut down electrical systems or allow responders to move a disabled vehicle. Some new vehicles do not even have conventional steering wheels or pedals.

Recent incidents demonstrate the stakes. During a major power outage, a disabled autonomous vehicle delayed an ambulance in San Francisco. In Austin, officials documented driverless vehicles blocking ambulance access and interfering at emergency scenes. In Dallas, a deputy constable had to enter and move a Waymo so fire equipment could reach a five-alarm apartment fire.

Witherite said Texas should require a uniform, enforceable emergency-response standard before autonomous vehicles operate without a human driver. At a minimum, every company should be required to maintain a verified 24-hour emergency line, provide standardized responder instructions, conduct hands-on training with local agencies, comply immediately with emergency geofences and demonstrate that its vehicles can recognize and yield to emergency personnel.

“Driverless-vehicle companies are introducing their technology one fleet and one city at a time, but as service expands, the cumulative burden will become a national issue borne by local officers, firefighters and paramedics,” Witherite said. “The public should not learn during an actual emergency that a company’s number does not work or that responders do not know how to move its vehicle. Test the system before deployment, standardize the procedures and make sure help is available every second of every day.”

About Amy Witherite

Amy Witherite is a nationally recognized traffic safety advocate, attorney and founder of Witherite Law Group. She has long advocated for policies and technologies that reduce roadway injuries and protect drivers, passengers, pedestrians and first responders.

Media gallery

About The Author
Business Wire