The Chamber opposes the exemption for Waymo and Aurora.
Key Highlights :
Washington - A major transport union on Tuesday opposed a request filed by Alphabet's self-driving unit Waymo and autonomous driving technology company Aurora for an exemption from rules on warning devices for large semi-trucks, citing safety issues.
The National Transport Workers Union (NTWU) said in a letter to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration that the exemption would "result in more deaths and serious injuries on our nation's roads."
The NTWU cited a study by the University of Michigan that found that semi-trucks with large trailers are four times as likely to be involved in a fatal crash as those with smaller trailers. The NTWU also said that the exemption would allow truck manufacturers to reduce the size of their trailers, which would increase the chances of a fatal crash.
NTWU President James P. Hoffa said in the letter that the union "cannot support an exemption that would put our members' safety and the safety of the public at risk."