An Ethical Perspective on Intelligent Transport Systems

Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) is a fast evolving domain with an increasingly important role in shaping the future of transport and a significant impact on a wide range of issues, many of which have ethical implications. On the other hand, Ethics is essential to ensure that ITS are safe, fair, accountable, trustworthy, and respectful of privacy. This study reflects on the ethical concerns around transport system and its impact on economic, social and environmental dimensions, from the spirit of the foundational concepts of Ethics to the specific issues raised by intelligent transport, including those enhanced by Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) systems. The primordial ethical concerns of transport have, in some extent, been mitigated with the introduction of the ITS paradigm, but others have arisen as a result of emerging technologies. Ethics is therefore critical in intelligent transport because of its potential to significantly impact individuals, communities, and society as a whole, and is an important tool to design more sustainable, equitable, and fair transport systems.