{"id":383639,"date":"2026-08-28T15:30:10","date_gmt":"2026-08-28T15:30:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/383639\/"},"modified":"2026-08-28T15:30:10","modified_gmt":"2026-08-28T15:30:10","slug":"council-to-explore-autonomous-vehicle-safety-standards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/383639\/","title":{"rendered":"Council to explore autonomous vehicle safety standards"},"content":{"rendered":"

Earlier this month, City of St. Petersburg officials met with Waymo representatives<\/a> 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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.\u00a0<\/p>\n

At its Thursday meeting, the City Council unanimously voted to explore regulatory frameworks and standards for autonomous vehicles. Givens submitted the request.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Waymo does not currently have plans to serve Pinellas County. However, the company is interested in \u201cexpanding their operations\u201d into the area, according to City of St. Petersburg spokesperson Samantha Bequer.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it\u2019s definitely time for us to have this conversation,\u201d Givens told the Catalyst. \u201cFlorida cities have been having conversations across the state regarding safety and regulation, but I think it\u2019s time to do it in St. Petersburg with it getting so close.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Givens said that he believes organizations like Waymo could be an asset to residents.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cAutonomous vehicles can improve traffic flow,\u201d he explained. \u201cThey 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.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Givens added that driverless cars commit \u201cfewer human errors.\u201d For example, they do not operate under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Additionally, the technology does not get distracted or fatigued.\u00a0<\/p>\n

However, he did express concerns about how a service would operate.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWith us being preempted every which way, we have to be able to control what we can control,\u201d Givens said. \u201cFor one, state law really regulates rideshare in Florida. So, local councils are limited with the direct power that we have over those rules. That\u2019s why cities have to really set compliance when it comes to local traffic laws.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

He believes it\u2019s the municipality\u2019s 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are definitely a lot of concerns nationally about Waymo navigating around flooded streets and school buses,\u201d he explained. \u201cIt\u2019s become a huge debate across all kinds of city governments and traffic safety experts. I think it\u2019s time for us to plan ahead and be proactive, rather than reactive.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

With the Thursday approval, the new business item will be brought to the Housing, Land Use and Transportation Committee or other relevant committee.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Givens expects that council members will discuss efficiency benefits as well as \u201cunresolved challenges and risks.\u201d 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s pros, but cons as well,\u201d he said. \u201cThe 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.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

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