---
title: "Intel Wants to Use Math to Prove Self-Driving Cars Are Safe"
description: "Will a mathematical formula instill more confidence in autonomous vehicles?"
date: "2017-10-19"
modified: "2017-10-19"
authors:
  - name: "Stephen Edelstein"
    job_title: "Weekend Editor"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/stephen-edelstein"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/article/15284/intel-wants-to-use-math-to-prove-self-driving-cars-are-safe"
categories:
  - "Car Tech"
  - "News"
  - "Self-Driving Tech"
tags:
  - "Autonomous Cars"
  - "Intel"
  - "Mobileye"
  - "safety"
  - "self-driving cars"
  - "Tech"
---

# Intel Wants to Use Math to Prove Self-Driving Cars Are Safe

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2017/07/intel-arizona-auto-lab-2.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com\</em\>*

In theory, self-driving cars are very safe. They eliminate the human element that is the cause of most car crashes, after all. But definitively proving that is a bit more challenging.

Intel believes it has a way to validate the safety of autonomous cars, and it involves math. Anon Shashua, CEO of Intel-owned Mobileye, is [proposing a formula](<https://newsroom.intel.com/news/intel-mobileye-offer-formula-prove-safety-autonomous-vehicles/>) called Responsibility Sensitivity Safety, which he claims will ensure that self-driving cars behave carefully. The proposed system could also help shield makers of autonomous cars from blame in the event of crashes involving human-driven cars.

Responsibility Sensitivity Safety is more about ensuring that self-driving cars don't cause crashes (and being able to prove that), than eliminating crashes altogether. Intel realizes that self-driving cars can't always account for actions taken by other vehicles, but it wants to write software that will make it impossible for self-driving cars to act dangerously. Intel's formula is kind of like Isaac Asimov's three laws of robotics: Basically to avoid injuring humans, to obey humans, and to protect itself. But in this case, it's for self-driving cars.

This concept relies on the ability to calculate known factors, like reaction times. For example, Intel proposes programming autonomous cars to drive past parked cars at a speed slow enough to stop in time if a pedestrian walks out into the road. Intel claims it's possible to calculate that speed because the maximum speed a human being can move in that situation can be measured and modeled.

Implementing this system will allow makers of self-driving cars to prove that their vehicles aren't at fault in crashes. Liability is one of the major concerns for companies developing self-driving cars, and this could go a long way to putting executives at ease. Because no matter how safe they are, self-driving cars will eventually crash.

In fact, the safe driving habits of current self-driving cars are proving to be a liability. Even the safest driving [can't prevent all crashes](<https://www.thedrive.com/tech/14894/gm-self-driving-cars-involved-in-6-accidents-in-california-last-month>), and in some cases the mix of a self-driving cars and more aggressive human drivers has been the cause of crashes. Each crash is a potential public relations disaster that could feed [public doubts of autonomous driving](<https://www.thedrive.com/article/14870/study-shows-continued-worries-about-self-driving-car-hacking>). So a mathematical proof that self-driving cars aren't to blame could be very appealing indeed.

## Author
Stephen has always been passionate about cars, and managed to turn that passion into a career as a freelance automotive journalist. When he's not handling weekend coverage for The Drive, you can find him looking for a new book to read.

### Author social links  
[Twitter](<https://twitter.com/SAEdelstein>)