Minneapolis mayor vetoes human-monitor requirement for driverless vehicles

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey vetoed an ordinance on Oct. 2 that would have required paid, licensed human safety monitors inside driverless vehicles operating in the city, letsdatascience.com reported. The City Council had approved the measure 7-6 on Oct. 1. The ordinance would also have required autonomous-vehicle companies to obtain a city license. Monitors would have occupied the driver's seat with immediate access to steering, braking and acceleration. Frey described the requirement as a "backdoor ban," while supporters cited rideshare-driver jobs and safety concerns. WCCO Radio reported that the council's 7-6 margin makes an override unlikely.