Self-driving cars are no longer a thing of the future. Top car manufacturers, technology companies, and even ride-hailing services are working together to perfect these autonomous vehicles. But as autonomous driving technology continues to progress, one major ethical question remains - how should self-driving cars be programmed to handle life-or-death decisions?
The moral dilemma that arises with programming self-driving cars involves making decisions that could result in the loss of human life. It poses the question of whether self-driving cars should prioritize its passengers or the pedestrians on the road in the event of an accident. A critical decision must be made, and the answer could mean the difference between life and death.
For instance, if a self-driving car is driving in a busy area and a pedestrian suddenly appears in front of the vehicle, does the car swerve to avoid the pedestrian, endangering its own passengers, or continue on its path and hit the pedestrian to save its passengers? It is a decision that cannot be avoided, and one that must be programmed into the vehicle’s software.
One approach to solving this moral dilemma is the utilitarian approach. This method prioritizes maximizing overall welfare by minimizing harm and maximizing pleasure. In the context of self-driving cars, a utilitarian approach would mean prioritizing actions that would result in the least amount of harm to the fewest number of people.
For instance, if the self-driving car must make the choice between hitting one pedestrian versus a group of pedestrians or its passengers, it should choose to hit the one pedestrian to minimize harm to a larger number of people.
Another approach is the individualistic approach, which prioritizes the interests of an individual over the overall welfare of a group. In the context of self-driving cars, this would mean prioritizing the safety of the vehicle’s passengers over the pedestrians on the road in the event of an accident.
For example, if the self-driving car must make a decision between swerving to avoid a pedestrian and putting its passengers at risk, it should prioritize the safety of the passengers and continue on its path to avoid hypothetical harm.
The moral and legal implications of programming self-driving cars with a specific ethical approach are not to be taken lightly. It is difficult to determine which ethical approach is the correct one, especially when different people have different ethical beliefs.
In addition, implementing a specific ethical approach raises potential legal issues. The decisions made by these self-driving cars could be considered as intentional decisions and result in liability claims. The question of who is responsible when a self-driving car causes an accident is yet to be fully resolved.
The development of self-driving cars has brought about significant benefits, such as increased safety on the roads and decreased traffic congestion. However, programming these vehicles to handle life-and-death decisions is one of the biggest challenges for the technology. While the different ethical approaches provide some guidance, ultimately, the moral and legal implications must be taken into account, and a solution must be reached that prioritizes the safety of all individuals involved.
