Who will be "responsible" when driver assist technology "causes" deaths?

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What happens when there's a computer "glitch" that automatically turns your steering wheel into oncoming traffic; resulting in an unsuspecting family of four being taken out?

Will the onus of ensuring all systems - regardless of whether they're physical or virtual - always fall upon the owner's shoulders?

Coors®

People hurt or killed in the collision will blame the manufacturer, arguing the design of the system was flawed and inherently dangerous.

Manufacturer will argue that their system was safe and the driver had the ultimate responsibility for keeping a lookout and maintaining control of the vehicle and the driver's failure to do so was the real cause of the accident.

Both sides will present expert testimony supporting their version of events and the jury will ultimately have to assign a percentage of liability to the driver and to the manufacturer and the parties' respective insurance carriers will end up footing the bill accordingly. 

^ Yeah, kinda figure it'll be something along these lines.  At the same time, I can't help but believe we're in for a bit of a rude awakening regarding the complexities & nuances that will now lurk behind the scenes compared to what we've grown accustomed to.   There's also the possibility of viruses and hacks that enter the picture;  what if such compromises are so sophisticated that not even reasonable measures by manufactures & "qualified systems mechanics" could be able to anticipate?

I personally love driving.  It doesn't seem like a chore to me at all and it isn't a problem that needs to be fixed.  The driverless cars aren't testing well anyway.

 

I personally love driving.  It doesn't seem like a chore to me at all and it isn't a problem that needs to be fixed.  The driverless cars aren't testing well anyway.<<<

I agree wholeheartedly, but the realization suddenly dawned on my while faced with a $4k CVT replacement ("graciously" reduced from $8k by Subaru) when I took a look at new vehicles as an option vs the repair.   Turns out the 2018 Outback was the last model without driver assist.  Ultimately, I spent the four grand on the CVT replacement, but my vehicle has 155k on it and while I'd love to keep it going for another 100k the thought has occurred to me to find the best deal on a low mileage 2018 while I can!

While the driverless cars might not be testing well now, I can't help but believe we're on a one-way street and it's just a matter of time. 

fffffuuuuuuucccckk that!

 

I'll be a part of the resistance.  Ha

The more you drive, the less intelligent you are.

-repo man

I picture g-rrreg driving a Geo Metro talking on his flip phone cranking '94 GD shoes on a Sony CD Walkman with cassette adapter.

ha ha

>>Who will be "responsible" when driver assist technology "causes" deaths?<<

THE AIRLINE INDUSTRY??

FOM BLAMES SHAPPY

Vehicles being "summoned" by their owners should be surrounded by dumpsters or shopping carts.

Actually SUV with leather seats 

But I'm still rocking tapes and cds for sure but no need for the walkman adapter. ..

Looking forward to the flip phone