(The Center Square) – Colorado state Rep. Sheila Lieder, D-Jefferson, recently introduced legislation that would require automated commercial motor vehicles to have a human present in the vehicle while on the road.
In an exclusive interview with The Center Square, Lieder said House Bill 1122 is an important step in protecting Coloradans.
“I introduced this bill because workers from across the state came to me with concerns, about both job security and road safety,” Lieder told The Center Square. “My top priorities are to keep our highways and our interstate safe for travelers, and protecting the jobs of hard working people who have been serving our community for decades.”
The bill prohibits using an “automated driving system to drive a commercial motor vehicle unless an individual who holds a commercial driver’s license is in the vehicle, monitors the vehicle’s driving, and intervenes, if necessary, to avoid illegal or unsafe driving.”
For vehicles with hazardous material, it also requires that the driver be seated in the driver’s seat.
The bill successfully passed its first committee hurdle in February on a vote of 12 to 1, following an amendment process. It is now waiting to be taken up by the House Committee on Appropriations.
This all comes as some companies are racing to find a way to push moving commercial fleets to fully driverless trucks. Just weeks ago, NVIDIA, Aurora, and Continental announced a partnership to deploy driverless trucks at scale by 2027.
Lieder said much of the pushback she’s received is from tech companies, with proponents of automated commercial vehicles often arguing that they are safer than those driven by humans.
“Driving is dangerous,” said Kodiak Robotics, who is breaking ground by introducing fully driverless trucks equipped with the Kodiak Driver automated driving system. “Every year, there are over 400,000 truck-related accidents on U.S. highways. We believe that’s unacceptable.”
Lieder disagrees that the trucks make the roads safer, saying automated commercial vehicles are not yet ready for implementation in Colorado.
“Technology does offer great opportunities, but proper implementation takes time, and we need to make sure we are moving forward in a way that prioritizes safety and job security,” she explained.
Lieder added she expects the bill to be passed with bipartisan support.
“The bill has countless benefits. It keeps jobs in Colorado. It makes our roads safer. It provides much needed clarity for law enforcement, police, deputies and sheriff departments,” she said. “By passing this legislation, we’re not just protecting jobs, we’re protecting the safety and well being of everyone on the road.”
If passed, the bill would take effect July 1, 2027. Violations of the law would result in ever-increasing fines.
