Would Your Driverless Car Kill You?

Driverless cars will be programmed to avoid collisions with pedestrians and other vehicles. They will also be programmed to protect the safety of their passengers. What happens in an emergency when these two aims come into conflict?

Google, which operates most of the driverless cars being street-tested in California, prefers that the DMV not insist on specific functional safety standards. Instead, Google proposes that manufacturers “self-certify” the safety of their vehicles, with substantial freedom to develop collision-avoidance algorithms as they see fit.

Chicago Tribune article here

Keywords

accident reduction   accidents   autonomous vehicles   business ethics   driverless cars   fatalities   self-driving vehicles   

 

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Worldwide Air Travel To Spike 7% Next Year

Global air travel demand in 2016 will grow 6.9% year over year to 3.8 billion passengers, according to the International Air Transport Association.

Capacity will outpace that with 7.1% year-over-year growth, up from 5.5% growth this year. Capacity growth in North America will increase to 4.8% based on U.S. economic strength, and increased capacity in Turkey will accelerate Europe’s capacity growth to 6.2%.

Capacity also will increase in Asia/Pacific (8.4%) as fleets in India, Indonesia and China grow, as well as in the Middle East (12.2%) and Latin America (7.5%).

IATA expects Africa to exhibit the lowest capacity growth (1.6%), owing to “weak economies and stiff competition on international markets.”

Source: Business Travel News

Keywords

airports   aviation   business travel   corporate travel   Global operators   international   leisure travel   

 

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How Far Should Motorcoach Safety Rules Go?

Although motorcoach transportation overall is safe, when serious crashes occur, they can cause a significant number of fatal or serious injuries, especially when occupants are ejected.

Farmington Hills (Mich.) Legal Examiner column here

Keywords

bus crash   buses   federal regulations   legislation   motorcoach operators   motorcoaches   National Highway Traffic Safety Administration   passenger safety   safety   seat belts   vehicle safety   

 

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Uber May Try An End Run If It Loses Class Action Lawsuit

Next summer, a federal court in California will hear arguments in a lawsuit that could change Uber forever. The lawsuit challenges the way Uber and other so-called transportation network companies classify their drivers as independent contractors rather than employees. But if that case goes poorly for Uber, the ride-hailing company already has a fallback plan: the states.

TheVerge.com article here

Keywords

California operators   driver pay   employee issues   employee vs independent contractor   independent contractor issues   labor laws   lawsuits   TNCs   Uber   

 

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Massachusetts Operators Gear Up for Final TNC Bill Vote

BOSTON — Cautiously optimistic that a proposed state bill could bring TNCs in line with the taxi and limousine industries in Massachusetts, Rick Szilagyi, CEO, New England Livery Association (NELA), updated members on two state bills during the association’s annual holiday dinner party and meeting Tuesday, Dec. 8.

“The next six months are critical. We’re right in the fight.” Szilagyi told more than 100 members and guests. He added that there are two competing TNC regulatory bills under review by the Massachusetts State House. One, backed by Gov. Charlie Baker would require limited regulations on TNCs. The other bill, proposed by Sen. Linda Dorcena Forry, D-Dorchester, and Rep. Michael Moran, D-Brighton, (and supported by the NELA and Taxi industry) would require TNCs to abide by more stringent existing private transportation regulations.

The final hearing on both bills took place Sept. 15, but the next six months are critical as both sides will lobby legislators to craft a final version in their favor before a vote is taken possibly in July at the close of the legislative session.

Bret Barenholtz, owner Boston Car Service of Canton, who also addressed members on the pending legislation, said NELA is working with the taxi industry to get the Forry-Moran bill passed. He urged members to support and help underwrite lobbying and public relations initiatives as both bills are reviewed in the months ahead.

“We need everyone to step-up to support our lobbying and PR work,” Barenholtz said. “We have the opportunity to be the first state in the country to have a TNC bill with some teeth to it passed.”

Related Boston Globe article here

 

 

 

Keywords

Boston operators   legislation   lobbying   MASSACHUSETTS   Massachusetts operators   NELA   New England Livery Association   New England operators   Rick Szilagyi   state regulations   TNCs   

 

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