Why there's a need for protocol on self-driving car accidents

Last March, Twitter went viral with a photo of an Uber self-driving SUV after a high-speed crash in Tempe, Ariz.There were no injuries, and investigators concluded that the other car failed to yield. But that photo is a blunt reminder of the auto industry's unfinished business.As fleets of robo-taxis start mixing on public roads with cars, motorcycles and pedestrians, accidents will be inevitable. Each incident will be scrutinized, and one bad crash could rattle public opinion.What to do? Amnon Shashua has a solution.In a blog posted Tuesday, Mobileye's co-founder proposed an industry protocol that would enable investigators to quickly determine which vehicle caused an accident.Without an industry protocol, "you could have a long investigation, and it might not be so clear whose fault it was," said Mobileye spokesman Dan Galves. "The automaker would be facing liability, and consumer confidence could go down."Here are the key elements:A self-driving car can operate at normal speeds in mixed traffic with other vehicles.If the car crashes, investigators should have immediate access to its sensor data to determine the cause.Standard industry algorithms would prevent the vehicle from making risky decisions that could trigger a collision.A self-driving car would not be held liable if the other vehicle caused the accident.Industry algorithms would define the most aggressive evasive action that a vehicle can take to avoid an accident. That last item is going to be tricky. For example, should a self-driving car be programmed to avoid a pedestrian at all costs -- even if it hits another vehicle?