Autonomous vehicles (AVs) are unlikely to gain widespread acceptance until the travelling public feels they are safe. To that end, BS ISO 39003:2023 gives guidance on the ethical aspects to consider in the design of AV decision making processes.
Manufacturers of AVs
Designers of the decision-making process for AVs in Level 5 mode
Suppliers and the distribution chain
Purchasers, owners and operators of AVs
Government and other interested agencies
BS ISO 39003 gives guidance on ethical considerations with regard to the road traffic safety of autonomous vehicles. It applies to vehicles in Level 5 mode according to international Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE J3016) in 2014, as part of its Taxonomy and Definitions for Terms Related to On-Road Motor Vehicle Automated Driving Systems report.
BS ISO 39003:2023 does not apply to the technical method used to control the decision-making process, nor does it give any guidance on the desired outcomes of those decisions. It gives guidance on ethical aspects for consideration in the design of decision-making processes to ensure that key aspects are not overlooked or disregarded.
NOTE: This document does not prescribe the required controls but rather offers a set of “protocol guidelines” that a vehicle manufacturer could choose to self-certify against to assure that the desired necessary ethical considerations were addressed during design and effectively controlled.
This international standard offers a framework for AV ethics which is intended to support the practical integration of ethics into the AV development process. It can help users to:
Ensure that key aspects are not overlooked or disregarded
Provide reassurance that AVs will behave according to the mores and requirements of society
Enter new markets
Accelerate innovation
Develop their expertise
Increase confidence in AVs
Strengthen risk management
ISO 39003