Ethical Issues in ICT Technologies: Self-Driving Cars

Explore the ethical challenges posed by self-driving cars, including the 'Trolley problem' and job loss concerns. Analyze the impact on society and the decision-making process in autonomous vehicles.

Ethical issues arising from use of ICT
technologies
MN501
Due Date:

Table of Contents
Introduction...........................................................................................................................................3
Identification.........................................................................................................................................4
Analyse..................................................................................................................................................5
Evaluate/ Justification...........................................................................................................................6
Conclusion.............................................................................................................................................7
References.............................................................................................................................................8

Introduction
Today mostly every car’s possess some kind of safety features to prevent any accidents or collision
as it is known that 90% mishaps mainly occur due to errors made by humans. Automated driving is
very safe and will cause only fewer injuries or deaths, at first software will avoid collisions and if in
case that’s not possible then it will take action which could do minimum harm to humans. Also, self-
driving cars offer great transparency and collaboration making it possible to get to a revolutionary
technology.
This technology of self-driving cars also possess ethical challenges and the major two virtuous issues
raise here are the problem related to trolley and loss in jobs.

Identification
Though the influence of autonomous vehicular machinery is termed as far-reaching and positive too
there are some ethical implications which requires a proper consideration much before so that it can
be securely installed on the road.
The most noteworthy issue is that whose safety will be kept in priority in the middle of an accident
especially when vulnerable road users are there. This issue is analyses in termed as ‘Trolley
problem’. It is an issue because if there is one member only in a car and outside the cars, there are 5
members, and then the automated car will save the member present inside which is one only. But
morally five members must be saved and this comes as a complicated scenario for the engineers.
The second most noteworthy issue is that there will be a loss of jobs, not just some but millions of
jobs will be at risk. Emerging technologies have always destroyed jobs but also created some. But in
this case, things will be rarely to control and therefore government or companies must be well
prepared to tackle such situation. As this transformation will not be only in labour but is also in
public, private and transport [1].

Analyse
The analysis of the dilemma of ‘Trolley problem’-
Suppose there is a runaway trolley which is barrelling down to railway tracks onto which six people
are tied and if the lever is pulled then another track will be taken onto which 2 children’s are
present. In this kind of case, it will be hard to decide that what is to be chosen, the maximum
number of members, adults or children’s. This is what will keep someone in a fix for the most ethical
choice.
Another case says when a car is passing by the bridge and you have to stop it which can only be done
by keeping something very heavy in front of it. At one side a fat man is there and on the other side 6
adults are there, then whom will one choose again creates a dilemma [2].
Thus the people are afraid of self-driving cars as engineers will take decisions in favour of their
customers or clients. If the decision goes contrary then people won’t buy such cars as cars will
choose the life of other people sacrificing the life of them.
The analysis of the issue of ‘Loss of jobs’-
Job percentage involved in drivers of taxi, bus, trucks includes a total of 2% of entire employment
which is nearly 4 million of people. It serves as a job for people without education though it can
boost safety and revolutionize mobility. This is the phase of changing world and automation is taking
all the things over because people now don’t want to be liable or dependent on anyone [3].
No automation cars are present most right now, driver’s assistance can be got in $20K cars. Partial
automation exists in luxury cars, conditional automation will come in maximum 5 years and full
automation will arise in 10 or more years.
The workers already in driving occupation might face immense problems in searching alternative
employment as they are generally less educated and have little transferable skills [4].

Evaluate/ Justification
It is worth noting that hypothetical ethical dilemma is substantially diverse from engineering
problems. Engineering problem can differentiate between better and worse solution by construction
and ethical dilemma has no good solution. The decision-making process executed in the self-driving
car starts with environmental awareness, detecting obstacles, current situation, gaining detailed
information on what is happening and taking a step which could minimize damage and maximize
utility.
Autonomous vehicle manufacturers will tend to program a number of legal, personal or social
obligations into machines hardware, infact there is no chance that severe conflicts won’t occur.
Economically it will be more in demand or viable based on a number of factors like reliability,
protections, security etc. With self-automated cars, the collision or accidents will be reduced by a
great amount.
Autonomous vehicles we know will bring great things but will cost jobs of drivers and also it's not
just drivers but also crash repairers, insurers, lawyers and traffic police will be pulled out from work
because of reduction in traffic accidents. It is said that new jobs will be created but the fact is that
while some jobs will emerge, it is likely reduction in overall jobs. In short, jobs will definitely come
but more will go [5].

Conclusion
To eliminate such kinds of issues the effective steps prior to the coming of automated vehicles must
be taken so that no one is left jobless and no scope in dilemmas exists. People must be more
indulged in education, food services, monitoring or health care so that broader trends can be
attained and aggregate income could be raised.
Key of Recommendations
 With the driverless car technology, the car would be safe from the accidents.
 The traffic would be reduced and provide more facilities with removing the human errors.
 If you can’t park the car, then this technology provides automatically parking or self-parking
service.
 Provide the backup cameras and improve the weather issues and used safety policies.

References
[1]S. University, "Stanford scholars, researchers discuss key ethical questions self-driving cars
present", Stanford, 2017. [Online]. Available: https://news.stanford.edu/2017/05/22/stanford-
scholars-researchers-discuss-key-ethical-questions-self-driving-cars-present/. [Accessed: 23- Jan-
2018].
[2]E. Boyer, "Driverless Cars Accidents & the Trolley Problem", Dryve, 2017. [Online]. Available:
https://dryve.com/driverless-car-accidents-the-trolley-problem/. [Accessed: 23- Jan- 2018].
[3]M. Stoffel, "What Are the Biggest Driverless Car Problems?", 9 Clouds, 2017. [Online]. Available:
https://9clouds.com/blog/what-are-the-biggest-driverless-car-problems/. [Accessed: 23- Jan- 2018].
[4]D. Beede, "The Employment Impact of Autonomous Vehicles", Esa, 2017. [Online]. Available:
http://www.esa.doc.gov/sites/default/files/Employment%20Impact%20Autonomous
%20Vehicles_0.pdf. [Accessed: 23- Jan- 2018].
[5]T. Lowrey, "Driverless cars to bring job losses, hacking worries and ethical questions — but get
used to them", ABC, 2017. [Online]. Available: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-09-11/driverless-
cars-job-losses-hacking-issues-and-ethical-questions/8893384. [Accessed: 23- Jan- 2018].