> The "robot" car has a big trolley problem that isn't easily solvable.
I really think this is overblown. it's not hard to think of a solution to these issues because we already have it in traffic laws for humans. there are rules for accessing the right of way. if you follow the rules and make a good faith effort to account for people who don't, it is pretty hard to be found at fault for an accident, or even "cause" one to begin with. rear ending someone starts with too close of a following distance (or too high a speed) for the conditions. tbones and head on collisions can only happen when one or more people are moving without the right of way. pedestrian strikes on the street can only happen when the pedestrian or the driver is not observing the other's legal right of way.
sideswipes are kinda ambiguous. it's possible for two vehicles to check that there is space in the middle lane simultaneously, then merge into each other. I don't think it's legally required, but I never merge into the middle lane when there is a car to the far left/right.
I really think this is overblown. it's not hard to think of a solution to these issues because we already have it in traffic laws for humans. there are rules for accessing the right of way. if you follow the rules and make a good faith effort to account for people who don't, it is pretty hard to be found at fault for an accident, or even "cause" one to begin with. rear ending someone starts with too close of a following distance (or too high a speed) for the conditions. tbones and head on collisions can only happen when one or more people are moving without the right of way. pedestrian strikes on the street can only happen when the pedestrian or the driver is not observing the other's legal right of way.
sideswipes are kinda ambiguous. it's possible for two vehicles to check that there is space in the middle lane simultaneously, then merge into each other. I don't think it's legally required, but I never merge into the middle lane when there is a car to the far left/right.