AV Frameworks
Abstract
Agentic autonomous vehicles (AVs) represent a transformative shift in transportation technology, deploying artificial intelligence systems capable of independent decision-making in complex, ethically charged scenarios. This chapter examines the multidimensional social and ethical dilemmas arising from agentic AV deployment, moving beyond traditional trolley-problem framings toward comprehensive risk ethics frameworks. The analysis addresses six interconnected domains: algorithmic decision-making and moral agency, liability allocation in human-machine systems, privacy and surveillance implications of connected vehicle ecosystems, equity and accessibility considerations for marginalized populations, public trust formation mechanisms, and regulatory governance challenges. Drawing on empirical research from moral machine experiments, policy analyses across jurisdictions, and disability-inclusive design studies, this chapter proposes an integrative ethical framework that balances utilitarian efficiency with deontological rights protections.