Abstract
In the present article we exploit the logical notions of correctness and completeness to provide an analysis of some fundamental problems that can be encountered by a software developer when transforming norms for traffic circulation into programming instructions. Relying on this analysis, we then introduce a question and answer procedure that can be helpful, in case of an accident, to clarify which components of an existing framework should be revised and to what extent software developers can be held responsible.
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Notes
The text of The Italian Highway Code (Codice della Strada) is available online at https://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:legge:1992;495!vig=.
Of course, there are very important ethical principles that cannot be expected to take priority in the case of a conflict with traffic conventions, and hence cannot be included in the class of fundamental principles in this particular context. For instance, the principle of minimizing emissions of pollutant gas is extremely important for environmental issues, but it can never force one to contravene traffic conventions. It should rather be observed as far as possible in addition to all traffic conventions.
In addition to our comments on Definitions 1 and 2, a. possible way of addressing this issue is, in our opinion, thinking of frameworks for AVs as analogous to frameworks designed for the circulation of some automated means of public transportation. For instance, consider the case of automated trains: they have a limited capability of spatial motion due to the presence of tracks and, for this reason, their behaviour can be more easily foreseen. Similarly, early frameworks for AVs could allow these vehicles to perform a limited amount of spatial moves and to have limited forms of interactions among them, all of which would be easy to foresee and well regimented by the available software. This would also require keeping AVs separated from other vehicles and human agents (cyclists, pedestrians, etc.) in such early stages, in order to avoid any unforeseen event due to the other categories of road users.
We note here already that there is no consensus on how to define these notions precisely; nevertheless, our points will be neutral in the way that they will carry over to various proposals in the literature.
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Acknowledgements
Daniela Glavaničová was supported by the Slovak Research and Development Agency under the contract no. APVV-170057 and VEGA 1/0197/20. Matteo Pascucci was supported by the Štefan Schwarz Fund for the project “A fine-grained analysis of Hohfeldian concepts” (2020-2022) and by the VEGA Grant No. 2/0117/19. The authors thank their colleagues at the Department of Analytic Philosophy of the Slovak Academy of Sciences for useful comments on this work.
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Glavaničová, D., Pascucci, M. Correctness and Completeness of Programming Instructions for Traffic Circulation. Sci Eng Ethics 27, 72 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11948-021-00350-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11948-021-00350-5