[Terr_]

[Recycled from a older submission] Well, I feel kinda vindicated by this news, after previously noting:

> People worry that ways and times [self-driving cars] are unsafe (separate from overall rates) will be unusual, less-predictable, or involve a novel risk-profile.

In this example, having a secretly cursed vehicle configuration is something that we don't normally think of as a risk-factor from human drivers.

_______

As an exaggerated thought experiment, imagine that autonomous driving achieves a miraculous reduction in overall accident/injury rate down to just 10% of when humans were in charge... However of the accidents that still happen, half are spooky events where every car on the road targets the same victim for no discernible reason.

From the perspective of short-term utilitarianism, an unqualified success, but it's easy to see why it would be a cause of concern that could block adoption.

[camel_gopher]

Human drivers just have secretly cursed driver configurations.

[Terr_]

But not systematically, unless someone invents a completely novel tier of outrage-inducing bumper-sticker.