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Message started by engineer on 10/16/16 at 12:36:00

Title: Driverless Mercedes, moral questions
Post by engineer on 10/16/16 at 12:36:00

Here is a bit of news concerning something I have been wondering about. The article was in today's Daily Mail.

"Driverless cars would hit a child on the street if it meant saving the people inside the vehicle, Mercedes-Benz Australia says.
The luxury car brand's Australian branch has answered the moral dilemma of who a driverless car would save if it was faced with running over a child ............
'If there is someone literally jumping in front of you, in that circumstance, there's nothing technology can do except reduce speed of impact,' Mercedes-Benz Australia spokesman David McCarthy told The Australian.

Mr McCarthy echoed the sentiments of Mercedes manager of driver assistance systems, Christoph von Hugo, who last week said that driverless technology would put the safety of passengers before pedestrians."

Title: Re: Driverless Mercedes, moral questions
Post by oldNslow on 10/16/16 at 13:31:59

Quote:

... driverless technology would put the safety of passengers before pedestrians."

Good news if you happen to be riding in a self driving Mercedes I guess. As long as you don't mind running over children. ;) What if you're in some other brand, and it turns out the computer programmer was an animal lover? Cat runs out in the street, and your highzoot cybermobile makes a hard right turn into a bridge abutment.

Probably ought to read the owners manual very carefully if you plan on ridin' around in something you aren't driving yourself,

And God help you if it's running Windows. Talk about the blue screen of death.

Title: Re: Driverless Mercedes, moral questions
Post by gizzo on 10/16/16 at 18:48:08

Most Mercedes don't have a driver anyway. Just an operator.

Title: Re: Driverless Mercedes, moral questions
Post by old_rider on 10/16/16 at 19:16:30

A vehicles software cannot determine if it is a child, dog, adult, cow, pig or just a ball bouncing in the street.
Its that simple.... it cannot tell.... it will brake, and save its occupants.
Its like asking if a blender will shut off if you stick your fingers in it vrs a carrot.
If an program was written where it could recognize a child (or small body), it would still save the occupants.... why would a car company tout that it would kill you first?
Morality is in the eye of the beholder...... and the child can't buy a car.
Sorry... but facts is facts... i'm a realist.... not to say I don't have morals or can't empathize , just the facts mam.

Title: Re: Driverless Mercedes, moral questions
Post by Kris01 on 10/16/16 at 19:19:24

If all cars eventually become driverless...

I'm taking the bike!

Title: Re: Driverless Mercedes, moral questions
Post by jcstokes on 10/16/16 at 23:44:50

You guys in the US have no worries, remember the Winnebago Case. If your driverless vehicle runs over a child, sue Mercedes Benz USA. Then get the EU commission on something or other to sue Daimler Chrysler AG. If this happens in New Zealand the parents will get accident compensation. Sorry, if the driverless system is based on Win 10, sue Microsoft and get the EU Commission on something or other to outlaw Microsoft. God help you if this happens in the UK, as they are leaving the EU.