Self-driving cars seem like a futuristic idea, yet a lot are already ready for testing and possible release within the next decade. In China, there are already Robotaxis that are taking to the streets. In the US, Tesla has already released a half-self-driving car, one that requires the driver to sit up front and have hands on the wheel, yet the car is able to function on its own. When it comes to "when is the driver considered the machine instead of the human?" it is typically around level three (as seen below), when the control of the car is solely considered the machine's responsibility.

Level five is the level I will be focusing on more, along with levels 4 and 3. Level five is the level in which cars will be able to function completely on their own without anyone in the car (hands-off, driver off).

Although autonomous cars are seen as a way to limit the amount of crashes due to human error, there are some ethical safety issues currently being discussed, one of them being —if put in a situation that was unavoidable, would the autonomous car choose between the death of a pedestrian or its rider? What should be the ultimate decision, and who would be held responsible for this incident?

it is estimated that deaths caused by human error will be down by 99% once autonomous cars are in mass production! People will not be at the wheel while under the influence or have the option to drive recklessly, which does mean more lives will be saved than not.

As mentioned above, although autonomous cars do come with several benefits, such as easy transportation, less traffic, and safer driving, people do fear that the autonomous car would be only for the wealthy and the privileged. Much like the newer model of car these days, this is somewhat true. There is also the unavoidable, yet-to-be-answered, question: What if the car had to choose between the rider or a pedestrian?

When it comes to the testing and distribution of autonomous cars, the money part of it does definitely play a role. It was recently said that a few Level 3 cars have been released for on-road testing as their first form of test. This does put many people at possible risk if something were to go wrong or if the driver was to fall asleep or stay distracted for a long time at the wheel. As for the expense, below is the estimated cost for an autonomous car sold by several companies.

Beneficence and Justice are the two main principles that apply to this subject. Beneficence applies to this issue because, while the cars are going to benefit the people as a whole, they may not benefit all individuals, as the prices are most likely going to rise as the cars begin to get more enhancements and special parts. Therefore, not everyone will benefit, which relates to the ethical principle of Justice. Self-driving cars will be for the privileged, who will be assured more safety than others.

I feel that, although these cars seem to be inevitable, there should be more testing, and at a fair price. If the people making these cars truly want to create a car that is afe and made to change the course of human travel, the price should be obtainable by citizens with average incomes. As for the ethical side, there are several issues I believe could be solved, such as the testing and distribution. Yet the major one I am concerned with is the car being forced to pick between the passenger or a pedestrian if put into a situation. Overall, there is a long way to go in my opinion before these cars are released at Level 5, and I fear many companies will begin releasing these cars way before the car itself is considered completely safe and regulated.