Witherite Law Group Founder Amy Witherite: “First Responders Shouldn’t Have to Beg a Robot to Move” as Bill to Clear Robotaxis From Emergency Scenes Stalls in Congress

Waymo plans 20,000-car fleet and tests on Philadelphia streets while federal fix sits in committee without a single cosponsor

DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Amy Witherite, founder of Witherite Law Group and a traffic safety expert, is raising concerns about a federal bill that would require driverless cars to move out of the way of police, firefighters and other first responders. The legislation has stalled in Congress without a single cosponsor, even as Waymo moves toward a planned 20,000-vehicle robotaxi fleet and tests its vehicles on Philadelphia streets.

“Every week more of these cars hit the road, and Congress still hasn’t made it a priority to require them to move for a fire truck,” said Amy Witherite, traffic safety expert and founding attorney of Witherite Law Group, which has offices in Philadelphia. “First responders shouldn’t have to beg a robot to move when lives are on the line.”

On May 28, as firefighters raced to a natural gas explosion and fire in Dallas that killed three people, an empty Waymo sat stalled in the path of fire apparatus. Body-camera audio released by Dallas County Constable Precinct 5 captures Deputy Constable Jonathan Banda struggling to move the car. A Waymo remote operator demands his badge number and says the system “seems to be having a minor issue” before finally unlocking it so Banda can drive it clear himself.

Six weeks later, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration chief Jonathan Morrison warned driverless car developers of “a clear pattern of driverless AVs interfering with law enforcement and other first responders,” writing that “an AV that cannot safely interact with first responders is a danger to the general public.”

Rep. Kevin Mullin (D-Calif.) introduced H.R. 10033, the AV Emergency Response Coordination Act, on Aug. 3. It would require robotaxi companies to answer a 24/7 first-responder hotline within 30 seconds, obey local orders keeping their cars out of emergency scenes within two minutes, and show responders how to move or tow a stalled vehicle. The bill has seen no action since it was referred to committee.

“These are common-sense rules that any human driver already has to follow,” Witherite said. “If a person blocked a fire truck, they’d face a ticket or worse. A robotaxi company gets a phone call.”

In Pennsylvania, PennDOT holds sole authority over Waymo’s operations, leaving Philadelphia City Council little say in when or how robotaxis deploy.

“Philadelphia should not have to wait for its own Dallas moment,” Witherite said. “Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation can sign on to this bill today.”

Amy Witherite is available for interviews. Body-cam audio and video, the NHTSA letter and the bill text are available on request.