Mercedes-Benz has taken issue with media reports claiming its self-driving cars would prioritise their occupants over pedestrians in the event of an accident. The carmaker said in a statement that the reports were incorrect and that such a decision would be wrong and possibly illegal. “Self-driving vehicles are not designed to drive around people or other vehicles,” it said. When it comes to unavoidable accidents, the company said public discussions were needed to determine ethically acceptable outcomes.
Mercedes-Benz has taken issue with media reports claiming its self-driving cars would prioritise their occupants over pedestrians in the event of an accident. The carmaker said in a statement that the reports were incorrect and that such a decision would be wrong and possibly illegal. Mercedes said that its self-driving cars would aim to uphold the highest possible safety levels for all road users and that the cars were being developed to act in a low-risk way and avoid dangerous situations. When it comes to unavoidable accidents, the company said public discussions were needed to determine ethically acceptable outcomes.