CHICAGO, March 24, 2026--(BUSINESS WIRE)--As Illinois lawmakers consider legislation that could pave the way for driverless vehicles on Chicago streets, nationally recognized traffic safety attorney Amy Witherite says the state is moving in the right direction by taking a cautious, safety-first approach.
A newly proposed bill in Springfield would authorize pilot programs for autonomous vehicles in counties including Cook, with the potential for broader statewide deployment within three years. While some advocates have urged faster adoption, Witherite emphasized that Illinois leaders are appropriately focusing on real-world safety concerns.
"Illinois is taking the right approach on Waymo and other driverless vehicle technologies by slowing down and evaluating the facts," said Witherite, founder of the Witherite Law Group. "Public safety must come before rapid deployment."
Recent incidents involving autonomous vehicles across the country have raised red flags, including reports of vehicles driving into active emergency scenes, blocking intersections, passing stopped school buses, and interfering with first responders. In one reported case, a driverless vehicle blocked an ambulance responding to a mass shooting.
"These are not isolated incidents," Witherite said. "They highlight ongoing challenges with how these systems respond to real-world conditions, including emergency situations and unpredictable human behavior."
Chicago presents additional complexities, including harsh winter weather, heavy congestion, construction zones, and diverse traffic patterns that even experienced human drivers find difficult to navigate.
"The question is not whether autonomous vehicles may someday be safer than human drivers," Witherite added. "The question is whether they are safe enough today. Based on what we are seeing, they are not."
Witherite also pointed to public skepticism, noting that recent polling shows a majority of Illinois residents oppose allowing driverless vehicles on public roads due to safety concerns.
She emphasized that responsible innovation requires rigorous testing in controlled environments before widespread deployment.
"There are safer ways to develop this technology—through closed-course testing and controlled environments—without putting the public at risk," she said. "Illinois has an opportunity to set a national example by insisting on accountability, transparency, and proven safety."
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