AI Confidential with Hannah Fry · Episode 2
AI Confidential with Hannah Fry, Death by Driverless Car: what the evidence says about driverless cars
What the episode covers, where driverless cars stands on the 311 Starburst and what leaders should take from it.
What it covers
About the episode
The episode examines what happens when a pedestrian is killed by a self-driving car, and how responsibility is shared between the machine, its maker and the person behind the wheel.
- Broadcaster
- BBC Two and BBC iPlayer
- Made by
- Curious Films for the BBC, in partnership with The Open University
- Episode
- Series 1, episode 2
Official episode page (BBC Two and BBC iPlayer) · More about the series
What the evidence says
Where driverless cars stands in 2026
The 311 Starburst maps when each emerging technology and trend is expected to reach wide use. These are the entries that match this subject, with their status today.
- Technology · SensorsLidar
A sensor that fires pulses of laser light and times how long they take to bounce back. It builds 3D maps for self-driving cars, robots and surveyors.
- Expected wide use
- 2030
- Status in 2026
- Prepare
- Readiness
- TRL 9 of 9
- Technology · SensorsSensor Fusion
Sensor fusion is software that joins up data from many sensors, such as cameras and radar. The result is clearer and more reliable than one sensor alone.
- Expected wide use
- 2030
- Status in 2026
- Prepare
- Readiness
- TRL 9 of 9
- Trend · TransportationAutonomous Vehicles
- Expected wide use
- 2032
- Status in 2026
- Explore
- Trend · TransportationRobotaxi Ride-Hail Marketplaces
- Expected wide use
- 2031
- Status in 2026
- Explore
Source: the 311 Starburst, researched by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit (data built 2026-10-28). Status rings: Act now means wide use by 2027, Prepare 2028 to 2030, Explore 2031 to 2035, Watch 2036 or later. Explore the Starburst Centre.
311 analysis
What leaders should take from it
- Liability is the real gate for driverless vehicles; insurers and lawyers shape adoption as much as engineers.
- Robotaxis are scaling city by city; transport, retail and property leaders should plan for them in the 2030s.
- Wherever a person is asked to supervise automation, design for the moment their attention drifts.
Analysis by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
Next steps
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Answers
Common questions
When will driverless cars be common?
The 311 Starburst places autonomous vehicles in its Explore ring, with expected wide use in 2032, and robotaxi ride-hail marketplaces in 2031.
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