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Finding Fault

Much to think about in the court decision about who is at fault in the case of a car on auto-pilot killing people. 

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration confirmed that the Autopilot driver-assistance feature was active at the time of the crash. That makes this case notable in that these are the first felony charges to result from a fatal crash involving a partially automated driving system.

If there is a driver in the car, no matter what mode the car is operating in, the driver is responsible for safety - that seems to be the premise of the decision. Now if it were that (for instance) the car were to spontaneously catch on fire due to electrical failure and hurt others in the vicinity then it would not be the driver's fault. 

So if anyone has been dreaming of sleeping behind the wheel as their self-driving car takes them wherever their heart desires, this ruling should serve as a great wake-up call. For the rest of us who are skeptical about the driverless technology and its efficacy, we have no reason yet to change our minds. I like my car fairly dumb and plan to keep it that way as long as I can. 

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