The Monitor State: Minneapolis’s Unlikely Attempt to Regulate Autonomous Vehicles

The City of Minneapolis is considering an ordinance that would require human “safety monitors” to accompany self-driving cars on the road. This measure reflects a growing concern among policymakers about the impact of autonomous technology on the gig economy.

Minneapolis’s approach bears a striking resemblance to the early days of the industrial revolution, when workers transitioned from manual labor to machine-based manufacturing and concerns arose about job displacement and worker safety. As automation increases, policymakers are grappling with the consequences of putting human drivers out of work.

The debate surrounding autonomous vehicles often focuses on road safety, but the Minneapolis ordinance reveals a more nuanced concern: the impact on gig workers. Unions representing rideshare drivers have long argued that self-driving cars displace workers through lower trip demand while failing to make roads safer. Studies analyzing the effects of robotaxis in China have found significant reductions in daily earnings for taxi drivers.

Waymo’s co-CEO, Tekedra Mawakana, claims that self-driving cars will expand manufacturing jobs and create new roles for fleet operators and technicians. However, this ignores the reality of displacement facing many gig workers. The company’s offer of scholarships to students in technical programs is a Band-Aid solution at best.

The proposed ordinance raises questions about the feasibility of human “safety monitors” accompanying self-driving cars. Would these individuals be employed by Waymo or other companies, or would they be independent contractors? What would their role entail, and how would they be paid? These are pressing concerns that need to be addressed.

While the benefits of autonomous technology extend far beyond the transportation sector – including increased safety on our roads – policymakers must prioritize the well-being of workers who stand to lose their livelihoods due to automation. The prospect of staggering numbers of accidents caused by human error is undeniably appealing, but it cannot come at the expense of worker protection.

Minneapolis’s proposed ordinance may not be a panacea for the challenges facing gig workers, but it represents an important step towards acknowledging the human cost of technological progress. As policymakers move forward in this rapidly evolving landscape, they must prioritize both innovation and worker protection to create a future where technology serves humanity, rather than the other way around.

The public hearing on the proposed ordinance will take place on September 22, marking an important milestone in the ongoing conversation about the impact of autonomous vehicles. The debate surrounding autonomous technology has only just begun, and it remains to be seen whether Minneapolis’s proposal will set a precedent for other cities or become a relic of the past.