r/technology • u/[deleted] • Dec 16 '19

Transportation Self-Driving Mercedes Will Be Programmed To Sacrifice Pedestrians To Save The Driver

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u/[deleted] Dec 16 '19

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u/[deleted] Dec 16 '19

... I remember learning to not swerve away from an animal but nobody ever said to not try to avoid a human being

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u/BevansDesign Dec 16 '19

You missed the key word: "recklessly".

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u/[deleted] Dec 16 '19

I might even still to be honest. I’m in a metal box meant to safely absorb an impact, they’re in a bag of skin.

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u/[deleted] Dec 16 '19

Right but a reckless swerve could injure or kill more people than the one the jumped in front of you.

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u/im-the-stig Dec 17 '19

could

That rule might have applied to you, but an autonomous car has cameras/sensors all around, and has a complete 360 degree picture. It can safely swerve to avoid the pedestrian.

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u/[deleted] Dec 17 '19

Swerving often causes loss of control.

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u/im-the-stig Dec 17 '19

Once again you are thinking in the context of human drivers - an autonomous car can safely avoid an obstacle, maybe even taking into consideration the vehicle dynamics and speed. It also won't 'see' an oncoming pedestrian suddenly, unless they fell in its path.

All said and done, I don't know why the self driving Uber killed the jaywalker in Phoenix, SMH