The Morality Of Machines

Running Head: THE MORALITY OF MACHINES 1

The Morality of Machines.

Name of Student.

Institution Affiliation.

THE MORALITY OF MACHINES 2

The Morality of Machines

Technology and innovation have become the norm of the current society as humans dig

deep to find the best machines that are human and environmentally friendly. The essay will

discuss the new autonomous vehicles, which are driverless. It will focus mostly on ethical and

legal factors concerning their invention. These types of cars invented due to the many accidents

experienced on our roads, and it aimed to curb the menace. Some questions have come along

with its invention such as what happens when the driverless vehicle gets into an accident due to

technical problems or hit by another car? Who will be accountable for the crash? What happens

if two autonomous cars run each other? Alternatively, human driver crushes a driverless car. The

essay aims at discussing the above questions and focuses on ethical and legal issues about

driverless cars.

An example of a free bus sported in Las Vega's during its launch. The shape is oval and

can carry up to eight people; it has an engineer who takes charge when the system fails and a

computer monitor. Brakes and steering wheel are missing since it uses sensors like the GPS and

electronic curb, in conjunction with other technologies to find its way at speed not exceeding 15

mph. Samuel Gibbs, reporting in a newspaper article on 9

November 2017 at 10:52 GMT says

the driverless shuttle was involved in an accident in less than two hours after its launch (Gibbs,

2017). Jenny Wong who was a passenger says he watched the accident happen as a truck

reversed and hit the shuttle as they watched. The city said that the shuttle did what it had to do,

that is stopping after sensing that a crash could take place since it had no reverse ability when the

truck reversed it hit it. The truck's driver blamed for the crush, and his mistakes cited as illegal

backing.

THE MORALITY OF MACHINES 3

From the invention of this free shuttle, the yearlong project sponsored by AAA Northern

California is expected to launch robotic cars to help reduce accidents caused by human error on

the US roads (Gibbs, 2017). It also announced that it would start an independent uber ride-

hailing service with no human driver behind the wheel. It will make it the first such service

available to the public with no driver or technician to control it.

Current drivers love automatic transmission vehicles, not knowing that they are on their

way to autonomous vehicles. It is evident since most cars have automated parking among other

services. The Society of Automotive Engineers has developed a classification of self-drivers

from level 0-5. In level 0, there is no automation, and the driver performs all the driving tasks. In

level 1 the vehicle is controlled by the driver, but some driving assist features included in the

vehicle design (Krauss, 2017). Level 2 is partial automation where the driver has automated

functions like steering and acceleration, but the driver must remain engaged with the driving

task.

Levels of Vehicles in Technology

Level 3 has level 2 features but more advanced. The driver can quickly turn attention

away from driving, but she must be prepared to take control. Level 4 requires no driver's

attention and will fall back to a safe mode under limited environment. In level 5 no human

intervention is needed apart from setting the destination and starting the system. The automatic

system will drive to any location where it is legally allowed to drive and make its own decisions

as a robot would do. Levels 2-3 are being tested on public roads while 4-5 in private courses

(Krauss, 2017). The safety benefits are tremendous because the self-driven cars cannot drive

while drunk, they do not turn their heads to comfort passersby or talk on cell phones.

THE MORALITY OF MACHINES 4

Tort Laws in Autonomous Vehicles

Tort law deals with most problems experienced with the autonomous vehicles and helps

to answer most common questions. It states that in cases of manufacturing defects,

manufacturers of the self-driving cars are liable to victims of accidents that occurred. In the fact

of informational defects (failure-to-warn complications), manufacturers are only responsible if

they were negligent. That is if a more experienced manufacturer would have installed better

instructions or warning. The laws are in reflection to the same penalties incurred by those who

give mandated warnings on prescription drugs. If design defects, the rule is based on negligence.

Questions asked if the manufacturers made a good design choice if not charged for the damage

(Krauss, 2017). The General Aviation Revitalization Act is the model for legal treatment of all

autonomous vehicles, but it does not apply here since it was formed mostly for companies in

1990's and the manufacturers are not at death's door due to the market value.

The launch of Self-Driven Uber. Residents in Arizona are currently enjoying services of self-

driven uber after they received blessings from Arizona’s top politician. All uber trips will include

two uber engineers at the front seats to take control in times of emergencies as safe drivers. The

goal for uber is to expand the coverage to more cities within Arizona in a few weeks coming.

This system was introduced in Arizona last September. Uber was to launch 16 cars in California,

but due to the 150 dollar permit fee to be paid, they revoked the registration. Currently,

California requires companies that want to test their self-driven vehicles on the roads to register

for a permit (Hawkins, 2017). In conjunction with this program, companies are required to

publicize the number of times the car's software calls for the human driver to take control. This

rate advertised is one of the reasons that contributed to Ubers’ refusal to play by the rules.

Following their registration revoked in California, they welcomed Uber in Arizona.

THE MORALITY OF MACHINES 5

Arizona has taken the “do what you want” attitude to self-driving cars, the executive

order was signed in 2015 directing agencies to support testing o these vehicles on public roads

(Hawkins, 2017). It is a big chance for Uber's plans to conduct many of the trips in autonomous

cars, though there are many difficulties still in its path. These include allegations of rampant

sexism and even #DeleteUber kind of problems faced by the company.

Autonomous vehicles colliding are rare situations to happen but we cannot ignore the

impact it causes should it occur. In most cases, they would replay the incidence to note down the

cause of the crash. If the problem were due to malfunctioning, the manufacturers would be in

question to explain what just happened (Transportation, 2016)

Self-driving vehicles may get involved with cars driven by humans due to faults did by

the human drivers. In most accidents involving the two, the human drivers are found with defects

and charged by the law (Transportation, 2016). Although the autonomous vehicles may cause

accidents should their system fail to work as configured. Since human drivers cause most

accidents, the autonomous cars are set to replace them shortly.

In conclusion, we cannot deny the fact that technology is playing a significant part in our

economy and even improving our current lives. All nations would like to invent new methods

that could help them reduce the number of accidents they experience on their roads. Thousands

of people die because of human drivers' ignorance or failure. Such failures can be rectified by

programmed vehicles, technologically made. Autonomous cars are part of the plans in most

countries including vision 2030 to see into it that our countries become ranked as the top best in

technology and with reduced accidents experienced on our roads.

THE MORALITY OF MACHINES 6

References

Gibbs, S. (2017, November 9).Self-Driving Cars. The Guardian Weekly, p. 17.

Hawkins, A. J. (2017, February). Uber in Arizona. The Verge, p. 4.

Krauss, I.(2017, April). Tort Law. The Verdict, p. 21.

Transportation in U. S. A. (2016, September). Retrieved from Automated Vehicles for Safety website

https://.nhtsa.gov/technology-innovation/automated-vehicles-safety

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