Ethical Implications of Self-Driving Cars: Case Study and Discussion

This report delves into the ethical considerations surrounding self-driving cars, focusing on the responsibilities of software developers and vehicle manufacturers. It begins with a case study highlighting the potential for accidents and the resulting ethical dilemmas. The report then explores the legal and ethical liabilities of manufacturers, emphasizing the need for robust testing and safety protocols. The discussion considers the potential benefits of self-driving cars, such as reduced accidents, while also acknowledging potential drawbacks and societal implications. The report concludes by summarizing the importance of ethical decision-making in the development and deployment of autonomous vehicles, referencing key research and literature on the topic. It underscores the need to consider social, economic, and engineering factors to ensure the safe and responsible integration of self-driving cars into society.

Ethical Decisions in Software Development :
How safe are Self Driving Cars
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Table of Content
Introduction
Case Study
Discussion
 Pros and Cons
Summary and Conclusions
References

Introduction
The topic chosen here for the discussion is :
Ethical Decisions in Software Development :
How safe are Self Driving Cars?
The self driving cars can be seen in the near
future as a good mode of transportation.
 Some factors like social, economic,
engineering design and ethical , also need to
be considered.

Case Study
A case study has been considered here.
As per the National Safety Council , around
38,300 persons died and around 4.4 million
got injured because of accidents on the roads
in the U.S. , in the year 2015.
The major reason for the accidents was a
human error.
Therefore, a possible solution to reduce the
number of accidents is the self – driving cars.

Discussion
The software manufacturer is liable to a
great extent as it controls the movements of
the car in various environmental situations.
The car manufacturer needs to ensure that
all the functions work properly in a given
situation.
Adequate testing needs to be done.

Pros and Cons
It can help prevent accidents in future due to
the same mistake committed once.
It will form a chain and will reduce the
number of accidents over a period of time.
Moreover, all the vehicle manufacturers may
not be ready to accept this mandate.

Summary & Conclusions
The Ethical Decisions in Software
Development are very important.
The safety of Self – Driving Cars depends to a
great extent on the decisions.
 As the self driving cars will be seen as the
future mode of transportation, it has to take
into consideration several factors like social,
economic, engineering design and ethical.

References
Goodall, N.J., 2014. Ethical decision making during automated vehicle
crashes. Transportation Research Record, 2424(1), pp.58-65.
Goodall, N.J., 2014. Machine ethics and automated vehicles. In Road vehicle
automation (pp. 93-102). Springer, Cham.
Lin, P., 2016. Why ethics matters for autonomous cars. In Autonomous driving (pp. 69-
85). Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg.
Kumfer, W.J., Levulis, S.J., Olson, M.D. and Burgess, R.A., 2016, September. A human
factors perspective on ethical concerns of vehicle automation. In Proceedings of the
Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting (Vol. 60, No. 1, pp. 1844-
1848). Sage CA: Los Angeles, CA: SAGE Publications.
Russell, S., Dewey, D. and Tegmark, M., 2015. Research priorities for robust and
beneficial artificial intelligence. Ai Magazine, 36(4), pp.105-114.
Kyriakidis, M., Happee, R. and de Winter, J.C., 2015. Public opinion on automated
driving: Results of an international questionnaire among 5000
respondents. Transportation research part F: traffic psychology and behaviour, 32,
pp.127-140.
Fagnant, D.J. and Kockelman, K., 2015. Preparing a nation for autonomous vehicles:
opportunities, barriers and policy recommendations. Transportation Research Part A:
Policy and Practice, 77, pp.167-181.

Thank You !
Questions ?