On the 24th of December 2014, history was made. Google unveiled its first ever fully built self-driving vehicle. This self-driving car has been referred to by various names including autonomous vehicles and driverless vehicles. This vehicle is a milestone in automobile technology. It is akin to man discovering fire. It has the potential to change drastically the way man travels. It can cause significant improvements in the economy of the world through the benefits that it confers. However, the road to this goal is full of numerous challenges. These challenges include regulatory curves, technological disadvantages and glaring in the face of the world is the ethical implications of a driverless car.
The one advantage that the human mind has over the computer is the ability of the human mind to appreciate ethics and making decisions when faced with moral dilemmas. The question that arises in the use of driverless cars is how the cars will address these difficulties. For example, what is the fast car to do when a pedestrian suddenly steps in front of it, and braking is not enough to avoid an accident? Does it serve into another lane and risk hitting other cars or does it swerve off the road and risk injuries to its occupants or does it proceed and hit the pedestrian (Allen, 2009).
In appreciating this shortcoming of the driverless car, support has been voiced for the development of an ethical algorithm (Woods, 2006). The aim of this algorithm is to program the car with the moral degree exhibited by a human. Another challenge comes up as all human beings are different to one another in terms of their moral elasticity. Even in one human being, there is no consistency in the response to different moral situations.
Another ethical problem deals with the rightness of leaving the fate of human lives in the hands of a software or program. Research has shown that humans are likely to trust other people as opposed to machines especially when their lives are at stake. Most end users would, therefore, request for ways to take control of the vehicle whenever such a need arises. It is evident in plans that provide for both auto-pilot and manual modes. This will further regress the benefits that have been conferred by the driverless car into the economy.
The question of liability also seeks to be addressed. If an accident does happen and a victim intends to seek redress, against whom do you seek damages? Proportioning liability both on legal and moral grounds poses a challenge. The manufacturer of the driverless car may be held liable because of the algorithm programmed into the vehicle (Sharkey, 2010).The car owner may also be responsible for cases where the algorithm can be adjusted to suit particular customer needs. An interesting situation arises if evidence shows that the algorithm is a scientific representation of the human being and as such the car itself should be liable.
The economic benefits brought about by driverless cars are many and varied. One is the reduced number of crashes and road accident. It saves billions of dollars that would have been spent by insurance companies in settlements. The economy is also able to save more money in the health sector. Medical expenses incurred in addressing injuries and fatalities from accidents decrease. The World Health Organization indicates that up to 1.25 million persons lose their lives due to car crashes. Evidence shows that human error is attributed to more than 90% of the accidents. A driverless car gives the driver a rest and, therefore, have the capability to reduce accidents by 90% (Kurzwell, 2006).
Driverless cars will enhance the productivity of the human population. People will now be able to work in their cars, make calls and have meetings. Social benefits are also accrued to the use of driverless cars. The working population can concentrate on their jobs leading to a growth in the economy (Rouebuck, 2011).
Fuel saving is another economic aspect of the driverless car. Driverless cars are more fuel efficient, and predictions estimate a massive 30 % save in fuel consumption. Fuel economy stabilizes and improves the nation’s economy. The use of driverless cars will lead to decongesting of the streets. It is a result of the better use of cars and traffic pooling. Decongestion promotes productivity and reduces fuel consumption. The economy is greatly boosted by these factors.
The impact the driverless car has on the environment cannot be understated. Their use reduces the emission of greenhouse gasses into the environment (Rouebuck, 2011). They can use alternative, environmental friendly energy sources like electricity, hydrogen and fuel cells. It is at the forefront of the fight against global warming and climate change. It saves billions of dollars that would have been used in the fight against climate change. The economy both in the country and globally significantly improves as a result.
As evidenced by the illustrations, the development of the driverless car seeks to ensure the economic survival of the human population globally and also protect the nature that is the home of man. Ethical challenges, however, threaten this goal. These ethical concerns are viable, and they need to be adequately addressed and solved. It will enable the enjoyment of the economic benefits brought by this technology. Where some issues cannot be resolved, a compromise should be made, and middle ground reached.
Allen, C. and Allach, W.(2009). Moral Machines, Teaching Robots Right from Wrong.
New York. Oxford University Press.
Woods D. and Hollnagel E. (2006). Joint Cognitive Systems: Patterns in Cognitive System .
Kurzwell, R. (2006). The Singular is Near. New York. The Pengiun Group.
Sharkey, A.(2010). The Crying Shame of Robot Nannies: An Ethical Appraisal. London. Pangrave Macmillan.
Rouebuck K. (2011). Driverless Car Technology. High – impact Emerging Technology.
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