Union protesters advocate against Waymo’s driverless taxis operating in New York City.

Livery drivers affiliated with the New York State Federation of Taxi Drivers gathered outside the midtown office of Governor Kathy Hochul on Monday, urging an end to the testing of driverless taxi cars being conducted by Waymo, a subsidiary of Google. The rally featured roughly a dozen drivers, who expressed significant concerns regarding the potential implications of autonomous technology on their livelihoods and public safety.

Steven Rivera, the President of the New York State Federation of Taxi Drivers, highlighted the risks taken by human drivers in ensuring the safe transportation of New Yorkers. He emphasized that technology cannot replicate the instinct, compassion, or accountability that human drivers inherently possess. This gathering followed Mayor Eric Adams’ announcement that the city had granted Waymo approval to test eight driverless vehicles in select locations, including downtown Brooklyn and areas of Manhattan south of 110th Street.

Under current regulations, these autonomous vehicles are required to have a human present in the driver’s seat at all times, and Waymo must report instances when the human driver must intervene. However, city and state laws explicitly prohibit the operation of these vehicles as taxis during the testing phase, and Waymo has yet to apply for the necessary plates from the city’s Taxi and Limousine Commission.

Despite these regulations, concerns persist within the taxi driver community regarding the long-term ramifications on job security. Fernando Mateo, a spokesperson for the Federation, described the testing as a significant threat to human drivers’ livelihoods, likening the situation to a cancer that, left unchecked, could spread and decimate their industry.

The protest reflects a broader opposition among various organizations representing drivers in New York City, all of whom are advocating against the introduction of autonomous vehicles. Recent statements from these groups suggest that the implications of driverless technology extend beyond mere transportation; they pose existential threats to the workforce of over 100,000 individuals relying on driving for their income.

In response to the rally, Bhairavi Desai, head of the New York Taxi Workers Alliance, questioned the real demand for driverless cars in a city like New York, suggesting that the desire for such technology does not align with the realities of urban life and human interaction.

A representative from Governor Hochul’s office addressed the concerns raised by protesters, reaffirming the state’s commitment to ensuring safety protocols are adhered to in any autonomous vehicle testing efforts. The office emphasized the established procedures and safety standards governing such initiatives.

As Waymo continues to lobby for broader permissions to conduct fully autonomous operations in New York City, it remains a contentious issue, with many questioning the necessity and implications of such advancements in the densely populated urban environment. With legislative proposals for fully autonomous vehicle operations currently stalled in the state legislature, the future of driverless technology in New York remains uncertain and deeply contested.

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