Project Summary
This research will address questions surrounding safety drivers and remote operators in heavy-duty automated vehicles (HD-AVs). This 18-month research project will consist of two tasks: one is focused on human-system safety in HD-AVs and the other will aim to introduce a labor policy framework. The UCLA Risk Institute will lead on safety, using a risk-informed approach to investigate human-system interactions in AV operations. This is a continuation of research sponsored by NHTSA, and UCLA will expand here to further characterize risks associated with safety drivers, teleoperators, or the lack thereof. This research identifies the limits of human supervision and intervention, and what operational conditions can lead to safer or more hazardous operations. Risk assessment frameworks will be employed to provide recommendations for risk reduction.
UC Davis will conduct executive interviews with experts in HD labor policy and freight automation, complete a thorough legal investigation into risk assessment in relevant case law (both tort law and employment law), catalog emerging human-systems safety standards in the U.S. and Europe, and conduct an extensive review of labor and labor economics literature. By synthesizing these diverse sources of information, the team will develop a comprehensive policy framework that recognizes the tradeoffs of aligning HD-AV development with the state’s goals of enhancing safety, improving worker well-being, and generating economic benefits.
