Self-driving cars: Who dies?

(Photo by Grendelkhan)

Although cars can be as lethal as guns, there has been little talk to date about ethical requirements for drivers. 

There are laws against drinking and driving, but are there laws against favoring your own life over those within a nearby school bus?  Do driving exams include any ethical scenarios?

Or is it simply hoped that humans will make sound decisions during the moments before an impending crash?

It is furthermore hoped that humans have been “programmed” by society to make wise choices.  But what if humans are no longer in the driver’s seat?  What if driverless cars are now in charge at such crucial times?  Whose lives will they favor?  Whose lives should they favor?

When asked such questions, former Google-innovator Sebastian Thrun stated:  If it happens where there is a situation where a car couldn’t escape, it’ll go for the smaller thing.  To which Todd Spangler of USA Today replied:  But what if the smaller thing is a child?

Resources

https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/news/self-driving-cars-will-decide-who-dies-in-a-crash/ar-BBFyqFi?li=BBnbfcL&ocid=BHEA000

Copyright November 24, 2017 by Linda Van Slyke   All Rights Reserved