Question

For this case study, you will imagine that you are an engineer for a company that is developing self-driving technology for automobiles. Your technology will allow a vehicle to be driven without a driver under ordinary conditions. The vehicle will stay in its lane, keep a safe distance to other vehicles, stop at red lights and stop signs, and will not exceed posted speed limits.

However, as you know, everyday driving, especially in congested urban areas, is rarely ordinary. Delivery vehicles frequently double-park and block off lanes, people driving motorized scooters and e-bikes routinely ignore stoplights, and pedestrians frequently cross the street without paying attention. To be safe and effective, your technology must be able to deal with all of these nonroutine driving tasks.

Imagine this scenario. A vehicle using your self-driving technology is proceeding down a street in a large city late at night. It is carrying three passengers in the back seat. The vehicle is going at a speed of 25 miles per hour, which is the posted speed limit in this area. The vehicle approaches an intersection and the light is green. Suddenly, someone runs directly in front of the vehicle. It is too late to stop.

Your self-driving technology must make a choice.

Swerve right. If this choice is taken, the vehicle will smash into a parked car, avoiding the pedestrian, but damaging two vehicles and possibly injuring the vehicle's occupants.
Swerve left. If this choice is taken, the vehicle will move into oncoming traffic from the other side of the road, avoiding the pedestrian but possibly causing a head-on collision with another vehicle.
Continue straight. Your vehicle will apply the brakes but will not stop in time to avoid hitting the pedestrian. The pedestrian will be injured, perhaps fatally.
In your response to this case study, answer the following questions.

Which choice would your technology make and why?
What ethical considerations are most important in this situation?
As the designer of this self-driving technology, is your sole ethical responsibility to the occupants of the vehicles that use it? Why or why not?
What if there was only one person in the self-driving vehicle, and there were three pedestrians? Would this change the decision your technology would make? Why or why not?
Assignment Requirements
Length: Between 400–600 words
Format: Use the current edition of APA style, including a cover page.

Answer 1

# Ethical Decision-Making in Autonomous Vehicle Technology

## Introduction

The deployment of self-driving technology in automobiles has sparked significant debate, particularly surrounding the ethical implications inherent in decision-making algorithms. Engineers must craft systems that navigate not only technical challenges but also complex moral dilemmas. This case study presents a critical situation where an automated vehicle must choose between three potential actions to avoid a pedestrian, raising pivotal questions about responsibility and ethics in self-driving technology.

## Choice of Action

In the faced scenario, the self-driving vehicle's programmed response would likely prioritize minimizing harm to all involved—occupants, bystanders, and other road users. A utilitarian perspective guides this choice, focusing on the greatest good for the greatest number. Given the parameters:

1. **Swerve right**: While this avoids the pedestrian, it risks injuring the occupants by crashing into a parked car, potentially causing harm to the passengers inside.

2. **Swerve left**: This option is equally dangerous, as it leads to a head-on collision with oncoming traffic, which may result in severe injuries not only to the vehicle's occupants but also to those in the other vehicle.

3. **Continue straight**: This option would cause harm to the pedestrian, likely inflicting life-threatening injuries or death.

Considering these choices, the algorithm should prioritize the option that minimizes harm. Thus, if the decision is framed through a consequentialist lens, swerving to the right to avoid the pedestrian would likely be selected. Despite the risk to the occupants, it seems to spare the most lives overall.

## Ethical Considerations

Several ethical considerations come into play with this dilemma:

1. **Utilitarianism**: Striving to minimize harm to the greatest number aligns with utilitarian ethics, effectively guiding the vehicle's decision-making process.

2. **Rights and Justice**: The decision must account for the rights of the pedestrian, who also deserves to be protected. The ethical principle of justice implies that all individuals should have their rights respected, regardless of the situation.

3. **Responsibility for Action and Inaction**: Designers must consider the implications of both actions and inactions. The outcomes can lead to complex accountability scenarios, especially if harm is done.

## Responsibility to Vehicle Occupants and Beyond

As the designer of this technology, the ethical responsibility should not solely lie with the occupants of the vehicle. While ensuring the safety of passengers is a priority, consideration must extend to all road users, including pedestrians, cyclists, and other drivers. The ethical obligation is to create systems that ensure safety for the greatest number, which necessitates an inclusive approach to decision-making processes.

## Impact of Passenger Count

If the scenario were altered to feature one occupant in the vehicle and three pedestrians on the road, this could shift the decision-making framework. A consequentialist view would suggest prioritizing the lives of three over one. The action taken might then lean towards swerving or braking, aiming to avoid harming the greater number of pedestrians. However, this raises additional ethical dilemmas about the value of individual lives and whether a decision based on quantity alone undermines the intrinsic value of any single life.

## Conclusion

In summary, the decision-making process in self-driving technology is fraught with ethical implications that demand careful consideration. As engineers, it is essential to program these vehicles not only with an eye towards technical efficiency but also with a robust ethical framework that values the lives of all individuals on the road. The balance between utilitarian ethics and the rights of individual road users must guide the development of decision-making algorithms, fostering a future where autonomous vehicles operate as safely and ethically as possible.

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### References

(You would include here any references used to back up your claims in APA format.)