Book Review: Autonomous Vehicles and the Law:Technology, Algorithms and Ethics by Hannah Yee Fen Lim, Ed

Abstract

Of all the technologies that are wrought with the advent of artificial intelligence (“AI”), nothing captures both its potential and its dangers more than its use in autonomous vehicles (“AVs”). AVs have been touted as having the potential to radically transform a nation’s transport system by addressing manpower challenges, easing traffic congestion and reducing traffic fatalities. The various trials of AVs in the form of cars and shuttles on public roads, parks and research institute grounds and the retail availability of self-driving Tesla vehicles have further captured the public imagination. Much has been made in the media about accounts where Teslas have saved their inattentive drivers from near fatal accidents and driven their incapacitated drivers to hospitals. Less, however, has been said about the accidents involving AVs that have caused driver and pedestrian fatalities.