Neurosurgeon Jonathan Slotkin reveals the interest group he says is quietly running the biggest opposition to autonomous vehicles:
"Plaintiffs' bar is in significant opposition to many aspects of the development of this technology, and has been formally as early as 2017 and 2018 through their lobbying group."
"I can tell you some facts. The majority of state liability actions that make it to courtrooms are automobile litigation. I believe it's something like 60%. This is a very significant driver of their business."
"If I'm them, this is me speculating, staring down the prospect of 90% decreases in serious injuries. Their charitable view is that they want to make sure that these companies like Waymo, Zoox, and Tesla can still be subject to liability."
"If you told me I had to be injured tomorrow and go to court and try to get money from Waymo or go to court and try to get money from an under-insured motorist that's unemployed, I'll take the first one."
"That is probably one of the bigger drivers for opposition. And in my opinion, that's part of why it tends to be blue areas or bleeders of blue areas that are most opposed."
The media could not be played.
