Proposed US rules would give emergency officials control over robotaxi operations

Rep. Kevin Mullin unveiled the AV Emergency Response Coordination Act on Tuesday in San Francisco, where hundreds of Waymo robotaxis carry paying customers. The proposed federal legislation follows a July 4 traffic jam that was compounded by stranded Waymo vehicles blocking key streets.

Emergency access is becoming a regulatory issue

Autonomous vehicles have blocked ambulances and fire trucks, entered active crime scenes, and failed to identify cones and flares. A TechCrunch investigation also found cases in which first responders had to drive disabled Waymo vehicles manually.

San Francisco Fire Chief Dean Crispen said robotaxis have picked up or dropped off passengers outside fire stations and ambulance facilities, obstructing emergency access. Mayor Daniel Lurie has asked California regulators to tighten AV rules after the July gridlock and a December power outage that stranded dozens of Waymo vehicles.

What the proposed federal rules would require

The bill would mandate clear protocols for first responders and a 24-hour hotline giving public officials direct access to AV operators. It would also instruct the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to establish minimum national emergency response standards.

Officials would gain a process for geofencing autonomous vehicles during emergencies or other safety hazards. This could let cities restrict robotaxi operations in real time instead of waiting for operators to act voluntarily.

“We have seen disturbing, and frankly, an unacceptable number of incidents where autonomous vehicles inadvertently interfere with emergency responders,” Mullin said.

NHTSA Administrator Jonathan Morrison had already identified a clear pattern of driverless vehicles interfering with police and other responders. The agency asked Waymo, Zoox, and other developers to submit solutions by the end of July. Waymo said it supports a federal framework and consistent rules for engagement with emergency services.

Practical implications for autonomous services

For businesses deploying autonomous systems, technical performance is only one part of operational readiness. Emergency escalation, direct human support, location-based shutdown controls, and coordination with public agencies must be designed before deployment; otherwise, isolated failures can quickly become compliance and market-access risks.