As the owner of a self-driving car, I would prioritize the safety of human life over any other consideration. Therefore, in a situation where the car must make a difficult ethical decision between swerving to avoid hitting a group of pedestrians and potentially causing harm to the passenger inside, or staying on course and hitting the pedestrians, the self-driving car should swerve to avoid hitting the pedestrians.

 Justifying this decision requires considering several factors: minimizing harm, adhering to legal and ethical principles, and implementing the principles of utilitarianism.

 1. Minimizing Harm: The primary objective of any autonomous vehicle should be to minimize harm. Swerving to avoid hitting pedestrians, even at the risk of causing harm to the passenger, aligns with this objective. The potential harm to the passengers is limited to the occupants of the vehicle, while not swerving could result in significant harm to multiple pedestrians.

 2. Legal and Ethical Principles: Legal frameworks and ethical guidelines generally prioritize minimizing harm to human life. For instance, the "Duty of Care" principle in many jurisdictions requires drivers to take reasonable actions to avoid accidents and minimize harm to others. Self-driving cars should adhere to these principles, and swerving to avoid pedestrians is consistent with them.

 3. Utilitarianism: Utilitarianism is an ethical theory that advocates for actions that maximize overall happiness or well-being. In the context of self-driving cars, this means minimizing harm and maximizing the number of lives saved. By swerving to avoid pedestrians, the car aims to save multiple lives, which aligns with the utilitarian principle.

 It is important to note that the decision-making process of self-driving cars is not entirely straightforward and requires continuous improvement. The development of ethical frameworks, public input, and regulatory oversight are necessary to ensure that self-driving cars make decisions that align with societal values and expectations.

 Furthermore, it is essential to consider that self-driving cars are equipped with advanced sensors and algorithms that can potentially detect and respond to situations more effectively than human drivers. They can assess the surroundings, calculate potential outcomes, and make decisions in a split second, potentially avoiding accidents altogether.

 In conclusion, when faced with a difficult ethical decision, a self-driving car should prioritize the safety of pedestrians over the well-being of the passenger inside. This decision is justified by the principles of minimizing harm, adhering to legal and ethical principles, and implementing the utilitarian principle of maximizing overall well-being.