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Will 'human instinct' hinder self-driving cars?

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<i>Image:  AP / Eric Risberg</i>
<i>Image: AP / Eric Risberg</i>
Eric Risberg

South Africa - New sensors, connected systems, faster CPU power... despite advances made in technology, one factor continues to be a stumbling block for self-driving cars - 'human instinct'.

Automakers are attempting to create autonomous vehicles that could use sound judgment as a human driver would in a tricky road situation. One issue is how a self-driving car would handle the 'The Trolley Problem'.

Perfect programming 

'The Trolley Problem' poses an ethical dilemma; there is a trolley on a runway heading for five people tied to a track, however, a switch of a lever would move the trolley onto another route with only one person tied on the track.

What would be the most ethical choice? What would make it okay for the trolley to hit one person and not five?

Now apply this to a car crash scenario... 

Check out the infographic below: list by Selectcarleasing

list by Selectcarleasing

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