New guidelines pave the way for ethical automated driving

Latest rules demand transparency, clear liability as technology advances

China has issued new ethical guidelines for automated driving technology, emphasizing that the priority for automated systems must be the protection of human life — including people inside and outside vehicles — as the technology advances toward commercialization.

In cases of unavoidable traffic accidents or extreme conditions, automated driving systems should highly respect life and actively seek ways to minimize harm, according to the guidelines, which were released by the Ministry of Science and Technology on Wednesday.

The guidelines also call for clear documentation and accessibility to the algorithms, models and related content behind automated driving systems to guarantee the public's right to know. Well-designed risk monitoring and emergency mechanisms should be in place to ensure that those responsible can detect, intervene and manage risks in a timely manner, keeping threats to a reasonable and manageable level.