Self-Driving Cars: Technology, Safety, & The Future Of Autonomous Cars

Definition And Key Facts (At A Glance)

• Definition: Self-driving cars use cameras, radar, LiDAR, and AI to drive without a human.

• Current status: Level 2 cars are on sale. Level 4 robotaxis are being used in America. Level 5 is not yet available.

• Core tech: Sensor fusion, neural networks, teleoperation, LiDAR, radar.

• Pros: Fewer crashes and better access.

• Cons: Concerns about cost, safety, and ethics.

The Six Levels Of Driving Automation (SAE/USDOT)

There are six levels of driving automation: Level 0 (no automation) – Level 5 (full automation). Most cars today are level 2. Level 3 and 4 cars are being tested in some cities in America.

Levels Of Automation

(Source: Imagination)

How Do Self-Driving Cars Work?

How Does LiDAR Technology Work In Self-Driving Cars?

LiDAR provides 3D cloud data. This helps a car find its surroundings, spotting objects nearby and planning where to go.

LiDAR emits laser pulses and measures the time it takes these pulses to bounce off an object and return. The time it takes to come back shows how far away it is. LiDAR is the primary system for telling self-driving cars where to go, whilst identifying road signs, safe distances and traffic signals.

What Is The Role Of AI And Machine Learning In Autonomous Vehicles?

AI uses the data provided by the sensors to make human-like decisions. This involves following road signs and looking out for hazards on the road.

The Differences Between Camera, Radar, And LiDAR Sensors In ADAS

Within the AI system, neural networks help the car take information from the cameras. In certain test scenarios, teleoperation allows a human to remotely control the car.

The Sensors Involved In Autonomous Driving

Benefits Of Autonomous Vehicles 

Benefits

• Safer Roads: Most crashes happen because people make mistakes. Self-driving cars can help stop that.

• Less Traffic: These cars can share information to keep traffic moving.

• More Freedom: Older people and people with disabilities can travel more easily.

• Better for the Planet: Smoother driving uses less fuel and makes less pollution.

Challenges And Limitations Of Self-Driving Cars 

Challenges:

• Safety and Trust: Past test crashes have worried people. This has gone some way to reducing trust in self-driving cars.

• Rules and Responsibility: If a self-driving car crashes, who’s at fault?

• High Cost: The technology is still very expensive to build.

• Bad Weather: Rain and snow can block the car's sensors.

Safety, Ethics, And Laws Around Self-Driving Cars

 Are Self-Driving Cars Safer Than Humans?

• 1,353 self-driving car crashes in the US (Techpilot).

• By June 2024, about 200 self-driving car accidents had been reported in the US (G&M Direct Hire).

• In early 2025, Tesla said its self-driving cars crashed once every 69 million miles. Normal cars crash once every 963,000 miles (Tesla).

• Waymo found 96% fewer crashes at junctions. Also, 91% fewer crashes where airbags went off (Waymo).

Ethical Issues – The Trolley Problem And Accountability

• Fairness and Bias - Self-driving cars need to be fair. They can’t treat people differently because of their age, gender, or identity. The car’s computer makes decisions using code, not feelings. It follows rules but doesn’t have emotions or care like humans do. People can think about what’s fair in a moment — a computer can’t.

• Accountability – If a self-driving car crashes, who is responsible? Is it the occupant, the software programmer, the manufacturer, or the AI itself? This creates a murky line of responsibility in the event of an accident.

• The Trolley Problem – There’s an old question called the trolley problem. It asks what someone should do if they have to choose between hurting one person or several people. The same idea can be used for self-driving cars. Imagine a self-driving car stuck in the middle lane with something coming toward it. A person might try to swerve or brake, even if it means being hit from behind, to avoid hurting others. But what would a computer do? A self-driving car doesn’t have feelings — it only follows facts and rules. So, would it choose to hit another car to keep its passenger safe? That’s one of the big questions about how these cars should be programmed.

The Autonomous Vehicle Industry And Future Outlook 

Different Approaches:

• Tech Companies: These companies work on AI and sensors to help cars drive themselves. They focus on ideas like Robo-taxis — self-driving taxis already being tested in parts of America.
• Car Makers: Brands like Tesla and Ford are building cars that people can buy, not just ride in. They’re teaming up with tech companies to add AI into their cars. Their goal is different, though. They want to make cars that still let the driver stay in control when needed.

Level 5 Timeline — When Will Cars Drive Themselves?

A report by McKinsey & Company suggests that 2040 could be when we see fully autonomous cars on our roads. Emily Shao, leader within McKinsey’s Advanced Industries and Travel, Logistics & Infrastructure Practices, has the following to say on the matter:

“By 2040, my kids will be in their late teens, early 20s. They probably won’t have driver’s licenses, because they just want to use AVs to get back and forth.”

Mingyu Guan, leader of McKinsey’s Automotive & Assembly Practice in Greater China, added to this, saying “Ten years, 15 years down the road, I imagine there’s no more need for driver's licenses. All the vehicles on the road will be autonomous driving equipped.”

These quotes raise the question, what’s the holdup?

• Development of necessary tech on a large scale.
• Legal processes and safety testing.
• Planning and logistical considerations for distribution.

Logistics And City Changes 

Self-driving cars will change how cities work and look. Because cars won’t need to park for long, parking spaces could be turned into parks, walking areas, or fun places for people to meet. This would make cities greener and nicer to live in.

Self-driving taxis, called robotaxis, could also help by letting people share rides. That means fewer cars on the road and less pollution.

Traffic could also move more smoothly. Self-driving cars can travel at the same speed and stay close together safely. They could even “talk” to traffic lights. This would mean drivers don’t wait too long at red lights. All this could make your daily trip to school or work quicker and easier.

Key Takeaway

Autonomous technology is here. However, its everyday use is still limited by regulation, safety validation, and infrastructure readiness.

FAQs 

Does the UK allow self-driving cars?

The UK doesn’t allow self-driving cars right now. They are looking to introduce them around 2027.

In what year will all cars be self-driving?

All cars will likely be self-driving by 2040.

Is Tesla the only self-driving car?

Tesla is not the only self-driving car. Waymo and Alphabet produce fully autonomous taxis, and brands like Ford want to get into the self-driving space.

What is the biggest problem with self-driving cars?

The biggest problems of self-driving cars:

• Cost.
• Regulation & liability.
• Safety & trust.
• Weather challenges.
• Ethics (trolley problem).

What are driverless cars?

Driverless cars are vehicles that perform activities like steering and accelerating without human input.

How does a driverless car know when to stop?

Driverless cars use advanced sensors that fuse information together about the area around the car. This information is passed to the car, which will apply the brakes if needed.

How many accidents do self-driving cars get into?

Self-driving cars led to 1353 crashes in the US in 2023. This was lower than human-driven cars. Tesla announced that in Q2 2025 their driverless cars had an accident every 6.69 million miles vs every 960,000 miles for human-driven cars.

What are robotaxi services?

Robotaxi services are fully autonomous vehicles designed to carry passengers without a human driver. They operate within geofenced areas, meaning they can only drive in specific, well-mapped city zones.