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IATR Technology & Innovation Committee Meeting

Tuesday, February 24, 2026, 02:00 PM ET / 11:00 am PT

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St. Petersburg Republican Sen. Nick DiCeglie

Sponsor of SB 632

Legislation to reduce the amount of liability insurance companies like Uber and Lyft must carry when their drivers accept a trip but haven’t yet picked up a rider just cleared its first Senate stop. The bill (SB 632) advanced on a 6-3 vote, with no discussion by members of the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee. St. Petersburg Republican Senator Nick DiCeglie, the measure’s sponsor, explained the proposed changes but offered no personal comments.

SB 632 would revise landmark legislation former Republican lawmakers Jeff Brandes, Chris Sprowls and Jamie Grant passed in 2017 that created statewide regulations for rideshare companies operating in the Sunshine State. It’s a potential cost-saver for the companies and their drivers, which have become even more ubiquitous in Florida and across the country since.

Currently, rideshares and their drivers must carry at least $1 million in coverage for death, bodily injury and property damage.

SB 632 would replace that with a new requirement for the “in-between” period after a driver and rider confirm a trip but before the passenger enters the vehicle. It would match the existing insurance requirements imposed nine years ago for when drivers are logged into a rideshare app but not on a ride: $25,000 for property damage, $50,000 per person and $100,000 per incident for bodily injury, and personal injury protection (PIP) at Florida minimums, along with uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.

The bill keeps the $1 million insurance requirement once a passenger is in the vehicle, along with PIP at limousine-level minimums. It also allows the required coverage to be provided by the driver or vehicle owner, the rideshare company, or a combination of the two, and clarifies that if a driver’s policy lapses or fails to meet requirements, the rideshare company’s policy must step in from the first dollar and defend the claim.

Further, the measure updates proof-of-insurance provisions, requiring drivers to carry and provide coverage information after an accident and disclose whether they were logged on or engaged in a prearranged ride at the time.

Source: Florida Politics.com

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Click Here to Read SB 632

Together for Safer Roads (TSR), a global non-governmental organization dedicated to advancing road safety through cross-sector collaboration, today announced Waymo as its newest member. As a leader in autonomous driving technology, Waymo brings deep technical expertise and a commitment to data-driven learning and safe fleet operations to TSR’s expansive network of fleet operators, vehicle manufacturers, city partners, and technology companies.

As part of its membership, Waymo and TSR will launch a joint Conversation Series in 2026 focused on the intersection of autonomy, fleet operations, safety, and the future economy. The series will convene leaders from a cross-sector of key actors, including fleets, cities, technologists and drivers for a set of structured discussions designed to elevate informed, practical dialogue around issues shaping fleet safety, technology, and operations. 

“As an organization that sits at the intersection of many of the most pressing fleet safety issues today, it is essential that Together for Safer Roads helps facilitate informed conversations about autonomy and its implications across the commercial sector,” said Peter Goldwasser, Executive Director of Together for Safer Roads. “With Waymo as its newest member and partner, TSR has the opportunity to do exactly that, drawing on their extensive expertise, experience, and learnings to bring fleets, cities, and technology leaders together around practical, real-world questions and potential solutions to critical questions. We are thrilled to have Waymo join.”

“Together for Safer Roads brings a valuable, cross-sector perspective to complex safety challenges,” said Matthew Walsh, Regional Head of State & Local Public Policy – East at Waymo. “We look forward to collaborating with TSR and its members to explore questions around fleet safety, operations, and how emerging technologies are shaping the now and future of fleets.”

Through its membership and the Conversation Series, Waymo joins TSR’s broader efforts to support safer fleets, stronger partnerships between public and private stakeholders, and data-driven approaches to reducing crashes and fatalities. In particular, Waymo will help inform key discussions amongst a broad cross-section of constituencies concerning the how, when and degree by which autonomy will affect the future of fleets across a variety of industries. 

The IATR is proud to have Peter Goldwasser serving on its Advisory Board, bringing decades of experience in road safety, government operations, and building effective public–private partnerships. TSR has been a longtime partner of IATR, collaborating on New York City Vision Zero road safety events and contributing to IATR Health and Safety Committee meetings. Waymo has also been a longtime sponsor of the IATR Annual Conference and was a sponsor of Together for Safer Roads’ annual reception last year, underscoring its sustained commitment to cross-sector collaboration on road safety and mobility innovation.

The IATR, TSR, and Waymo participated in a joint safety roundtable in London in April 2025, organized by TSR and Fleet Vision International, bringing together government and private fleets, technology companies, and transportation experts to discuss autonomy, fleet safety, and emerging risk considerations. IATR looks forward to continuing its work with TSR as part of its 2026 London tour, including the IATR Regulators Meeting on Friday, April 24, where TSR will participate in a program focused on road safety and its impacts on insurance costs. More details will be posted on our website shortly.

Source: Together for Safer Roads

Click Here to Read More about TSR

From Left: Kim Ramkishun, Executive Director of the IATR; Keith Kerman, Deputy Commissioner for Fleet Management and Chief Fleet Officer at the NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS); Matt Daus, President of the IATR; Matthew Walsh, Regional Head of State & Local Public Policy – East at Waymo; and Pat Russo, Treasurer of the IATR

Trump Administration Plans to Hold Back Grant Money for Some Democratic-Led States

President Donald Trump’s administration is planning to withhold some public health and transportation money from a group of Democratic-led states. Full details have not been released, including whether the states could take any steps to avoid losing the funding. The federal government cited concerns over fraud and mismanagement of taxpayer dollars, but has not presented evidence beyond remarks from Trump and others in his administration.

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Tesla Set to Launch Vehicle-to-Grid Program in the U.S.

Tesla is set to officially launch its first vehicle-to-grid (V2G) program in the U.S. soon. The Powershare Grid Support Program, announced by Tesla Energy, will enable Cybertruck owners in select Texas markets to earn money by sending power back to the electrical grid during high-demand events.

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Massachusetts Rideshare Drivers Receive State List to Speed Union Formation

Labor organizers who want to create the first app-based rideshare driver union in the United States have just received some support to advance their cause. In December 2025, the U.S. Department of Labor Relations decided that an up-and-coming union group — the App Drivers Union (ADU) — met the requirements to be regarded as the bargaining representative of at least 5% of active rideshare drivers.

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Why High-Speed Rail Is the Future of Travel in Ontario

Anyone who has driven in Ontario in recent years has felt the frustration of traffic congestion. The roadways are consistently clogged, regardless of time or day, and drivers’ patience is often at its limit.

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BMW Recalls 7,000 Vehicles in Canada for Starter-Motor Fire Risk

BMW is recalling close to 7,000 newer vehicles in Canada over a fire risk posed by a short-circuit that could overheat the starter motor. It’s estimated that worldwide, more than half-a-million vehicles are affected.

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Kiwi Charge Launches Autonomous EV Charging Project with $1.7 Million in Funding

Robotics and AI startup Kiwi Charge today announced the launch of its autonomous electric vehicle (EV) charging project with the backing of the Government of Ontario through the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN), and support from General Motors Canada and Pfaff Automotive.

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Einride Joins the European Connected and Autonomous Vehicle Alliance (ECAVA)

Einride AB, a technology company accelerating the shift to cost-efficient electric and autonomous freight operations for some of the world's largest shippers, today announced it has joined the European Connected and Autonomous Vehicle Alliance (ECAVA), a European Commission-facilitated initiative. ECAVA will advise EU institutions as the union transitions from policy design and pilot phases to implementing binding rules, market enforcement, and scaled deployment of advanced mobility, automation, and AI-enabled systems.

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Grand Paris Express: Investing in Europe’s Largest Transit Expansion

Self-driving vehicles are grabbing the headlines, but with most of the attention focused on cars or trucks, as they are more visibly present in our daily lives. But another form of transportation is responsible for billions of trips: trains and subways. These systems are traditionally driven by humans, but they, too, are getting automated.

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HMRC Writes to Uber Drivers over Undeclared Income as New Platform Reporting Rules Take Hold

Uber drivers and other app based licensed drivers across the UK have begun receiving letters from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) asking them to check whether they have declared all income earned through the platform on previous self-assessment tax returns.

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Tajik Entrepreneur Secures Millions in Funding for Startup Revolutionizing the Transport Industry in Africa

GoCab is an electric mobility platform that combines access to vehicles, driver financing, and a digital marketplace. The startup aims to address key transportation issues in Africa, such as the lack of financing for drivers and the environmental concerns of traditional transportation.

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How Radars and Cameras Improve Road Safety in Dushanbe

In Dushanbe, radars and automated violation detection cameras started operating on June 20, 2024. The system detects speeding, running red lights, driving in the wrong lane, and several other violations. The cameras and radars autonomously capture violations, record the vehicle's license plate, and transmit this information to the country's traffic police (UGAI). Afterward, an inspector verifies each case, and only after confirming the violation is a fine imposed.

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RTA Signs Partnership with The Boring Company to Implement Dubai Loop

The RTA has signed a partnership agreement with US-based ‘The Boring Company’, a specialist in advanced tunnel systems and innovative passenger transport solutions, to commence the implementation of a passenger transport tunnel project in Dubai, branded the Dubai Loop.

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Rep. Bob Latta

The discussion draft of the SELF DRIVE Act of 2026 has now been formally introduced in the House of Representatives as H.R. 7390, the Safely Ensuring Lives Future Deployment and Research In Vehicle Evolution Act of 2026. The bill was introduced on February 5, by Rep. Robert E. Latta and has been referred to both the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee for review.

The bill would amend Title 49 of the U.S. Code to strengthen the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) authority over vehicles equipped with automated driving systems (ADS) and to ensure safety measures while supporting U.S. leadership in autonomous vehicle technology.

According to the text, the legislation is designed to:

• Improve road safety, accessibility, and mobility;
• Encourage testing and deployment of automated driving technologies;
• Create jobs in the automotive and autonomy sectors; and
• Provide clear federal rules relevant to ADS-equipped and ADS-dedicated vehicles.

H.R. 7390 builds on concepts from the earlier discussion draft by formally adding new regulatory requirements into federal statute, including:

• a new section to federal motor vehicle safety law specifically for ADS-equipped and ADS-dedicated vehicles, and definitions for terms such as “automated driving system,” “ADS-equipped vehicle,” and “ADS-dedicated vehicle;”
• directing NHTSA to establish updated or new motor vehicle safety requirements that apply to vehicles with automated driving systems, standards that are intended to govern design, construction, and performance for ADS technologies; and
• provisions on motor vehicle testing or evaluation, rules for making systems inoperative, and measures for protecting the security of connected vehicles, signaling a broader framework for regulated ADS deployment.

The introduced bill text similarly codifies safety standards and definitions relevant to ADS technologies, though the full detailed provisions (e.g., regulatory timelines, specific safety case content requirements, and enforcement mechanisms) remain under committee consideration as of the bill’s referral.

Source: ACT-News

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