D.C. Workers Protest 200-Vehicle Robotaxi Bill as 2028 Rollout Threatens Driver Jobs
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Oct 10
D.C. Workers Protest 200-Vehicle Robotaxi Bill as 2028 Rollout Threatens Driver Jobs
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Oct 10
Summary
Drivers, unions and religious leaders rallied outside the John Wilson Building as D.C. council members discussed a bill that would let Waymo and other operators offer commercial robotaxi rides.
The opposition centers on job losses: protesters said driverless vehicles would displace rideshare workers and urged the council not to rush approval without labor having a seat at the table.
The 2026 proposal would create a DDOT-run program, initially cap fleets at 200 vehicles, and require applicants to log 180 days and 250,000 miles of autonomous testing in the District.
Waymo cites 270 million autonomous miles and says its vehicles had 82% fewer injury-causing crashes and 95% fewer serious-injury crashes than human-driver benchmarks, though protesters also questioned whether fares would stay low.
No council vote is scheduled after a July public hearing, and the framework would need full council approval before robotaxis could begin operating in Washington as early as 2028.
Will D.C.'s proposed robotaxi fees secretly fund struggling public transit while simultaneously threatening the livelihoods of thousands of gig workers?
Are driverless cars the ultimate solution for equitable transit access, or just a fast track to job displacement for human drivers?