Ethics of Connected and Automated Vehicles: Recommendations on road safety, privacy, fairness, explainability and responsibility

Abstract

Connected and Automated Vehicles (CAVs) are emerging as a new technology and new form of mobility in Europe. Expectations are high: these vehicles can bring down the number of road fatalities near zero; increase accessibility of mobility services; and help to reduce harmful emissions from transport by making traffic more efficient. However, technological progress alone will not be able to bring about the full potential of CAVs. The timely and systematic integration of ethical and societal considerations, from inception to use, will be essential to ensure their ethical and positive impact. With its strategy on Connected and Automated Mobility, the European Commission aims to make Europe a world leader in the development and deployment of CAVs. To tackle ethical issues, the Commission formed in 2019 an independent Expert Group to provide practical support to researchers, policymakers, manufacturers and developers in the safe and responsible transition towards connected and automated mobility. The 20 recommendations presented in this report consider ethical principles and shared moral values as stimuli in shaping CAV innovation, rather than be perceived as an obstruction to their progress