Response to the Car Dilemma

    The automated car should be programmed to prioritize the safety of its passengers, prompting it to turn either to the left or right (randomized). Assuming that the programmer is employed by the car company, he or she has a responsibility to ensure the safety of its customers. However, to avoid discrimination against the drivers and passengers of smaller vehicles, such as the motorcycle, the car will simply swerve either to the left or right, taking evasive action, instead of turning towards the motorcycle on account of its unprotectedness, which would be deemed an aggressive action. As evasion is morally justified, this solution fulfills the programmer's obligation to protect the passenger of the automated car while treating the SUV and motorcycle equally.

    Some might argue that by incorporating randomization, the program proposed in this solution would resemble the instantaneous decision-making process of humans and fail to lessen the risk of injury to passengers. However, though the choice between turning left or right is randomized, the possibility of not swerving is eliminated, protecting the passenger from the falling objects and reducing the total risk.

    One factor is crucial in this decision-making process: the potential danger of the falling objects. The threat posed by the objects is assumed to be greater than the risks of colliding with either vehicle, and the solution would be effective only if this assumption is proven to be true.