‘I Must Have a Steering Wheel in My Automated Car to Protect My Family’: A Confucian Ethical Reflection on Programming Automated Vehicles

This chapter presents a culture-relevant approach to addressing brake failure scenarios in automated vehicles (AVs). Focusing on the influence of Confucianism as the prevailing moral culture in many East Asian regions, specific recommendations are offered based on Confucian virtue ethics for these regions. The chapter argues that AVs designed for different purposes should be programmed differently to effectively handle brake failure situations. For automated trucks responsible for transporting goods and animals, programming should prioritize swerving onto a solid barrier to protect bystanders. In the case of automated buses carrying a large number of passengers, programming should prioritize staying on course to ensure the safety of occupants. As for automated small cars intended for individual or small group use, programming should allow for swerving onto a solid barrier to spare bystanders. However, it is crucial that each of these small cars retains a steering wheel, enabling a human driver to take control if desired. This provision allows individuals to exercise virtue and make appropriate decisions to safeguard their family members within the contexts of transportation. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature