While the ‘trolley problem’, of which more later, features in the title of this book, the editors note that this publication is a ‘substantial and purposeful effort’ (p.xxi) to look beyond the confines of the conundrum that is the trolley problem. What challenges do autonomous vehicles (AVs) and their advocates face as they are deployed in the modern world? They encounter a social space populated by people, vehicles (some autonomous, some not), awash with unpredictable behaviours and complex, demanding and dynamic, physical infrastructures. The contents of this book will resonate with those interested in technologies beyond AVs as many of the issues raised by the contributors are along similar lines to concerns in artificial intelligence (AIs). AVs and AI are not at the opposite ends of a technological spectrum, but AVs represent a very physical manifestation of technologies whereas AI seems obscure and ethereal to many people. Both AVs and AI are conceptually, and sometimes physically, entwined with the Internet of Things (IoT). One might cite certain commonalities to create a typology of technologies, but the dynamic nature of these technologies and their applications mean that attempts to define them in any absolute manner will almost certainly be problematic and have a short shelf life. Such an observation might offend the sensibilities of engineers and scientists, but for perhaps most of the population AVs, AI and other complex technologies might just as well be magical. As Arthur C Clarke noted, ‘Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic’ (1973, p.39).