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Before driverless cars can be released into our complex environment, they need to achieve exceptional levels of safety. How close are we to making this happen?

Automation is old hat. Almost every new car built features some form of non-human control: ABS; cruise control; lane-changing warning systems; even semi-automatic control. In the latter case, the car is capable of following traffic, accelerating and braking, as well as keeping to the same lane, within a defined maximum...