Main content

Death by Driverless Car

Examining two pivotal cases from the driverless car revolution, including the first death of a pedestrian. Who should be held responsible?

In March 2018, a driverless car struck and killed a woman crossing the street in Tempe, Arizona. It was the world鈥檚 first pedestrian fatality by a car that was being driven by AI. But there was also a human operator behind the wheel, monitoring the vehicle. A decision had to be made that would shape the course of a billion-dollar industry: who was responsible, the human or the AI?

In her first TV interview, the operator, Rafaella Vasquez, meets Hannah to tell the story of the crash and its aftermath. Hannah also talks to the lead detective on the case, who was tasked with investigating Rafaella, tracks down a whistleblower from Uber, the company behind the driverless vehicle, and takes her first rides in autonomous vehicles in the US and UK.

11 months left to watch

59 minutes

Audio described

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Hannah Fry
Director Harriet Bird
Production Manager Kathryn Wellington
Series Producer Vikki Miller
Production Company Curious Films

Broadcasts

Discover how AI can shape our future

Fascinating real-world examples of how scientists are using AI with The Open University.