Amy Witherite, founder of Witherite Law Group and a traffic safety advocate, is calling for federal standards requiring driverless taxi operators to show they can quickly clear vehicles from the path of first responders before putting them on public roads.
In Dallas, a deputy constable spent about three minutes trying to move a Waymo that obstructed the response to a deadly apartment explosion and fire. He eventually moved it using the steering wheel, a feature some robotaxis lack. Watch the Dallas footage.
“Three minutes may not sound like much until you are trapped in a burning building or waiting for an ambulance,” Witherite said.
San Francisco officials reported that stalled Waymo vehicles delayed an ambulance by 40 minutes during a power outage. In New York City, firefighters blocked by a delivery truck used a loudspeaker to ask the driver to move. Watch the New York City video.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has warned developers about vehicles blocking ambulances and fire trucks. Congress has introduced legislation addressing how autonomous vehicles interact with first responders. Read the federal warning and the congressional proposal.
California’s law requires emergency coordination and ways to move or secure certain vehicles without conventional controls. Those provisions take effect in July 2028. Courts may impose up to $10,000 per vehicle for qualifying interference lasting more than 30 minutes after a request for a local technician. Witherite questioned whether that penalty would deter a company Waymo says is valued at $126 billion. Read the California law, coverage of the penalties and Waymo’s valuation announcement.
“Thirty minutes can be an eternity when lives are at stake,” Witherite said.
Witherite urged federal officials to require immediate assistance for first responders, meaningful penalties for repeated interference and authority to restrict operations when serious problems persist.
“I am not opposed to autonomous technology. It may prevent crashes and save lives. But that promise does not excuse creating new hazards for the people trying to protect us,” Witherite said.
“We should not have to wait for another tragedy to discover that firefighters cannot get past a driverless car,” Witherite said.
About Amy Witherite
Amy Witherite is a nationally recognized attorney, transportation-safety advocate, and founder of Witherite Law Group. She has spent more than two decades representing victims of commercial and roadway negligence and is a leading voice in highlighting the safety, regulatory, and implications of autonomous-vehicle deployment.
About Witherite Law Group
Witherite Law Group is a personal injury firm focused on traffic safety, trucking accidents, and emerging transportation technology. The firm has offices in Dallas, Fort Worth, Chicago, Atlanta, and Philadelphia. Founding attorney Amy Witherite is a recognized advocate for victims of negligence on Texas roads and highways. Amy Witherite, founding attorney of Witherite Law Group, is available to speak to the pattern of AV safety incidents nationally and what regulators and legislators should require before allowing further robotaxi expansion.
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