Self-driving has so far broken in distinct waves, but the shoreline of full level 5 autonomous driving on public roads has looked as distant as ever. Automotive companies and specialist providers of technology in the field have been left frustrated by the faltering progress on a trail littered with the corpses of projects derailed by accidents during trials. It has become clear there is all the difference in the world between a deployment in a controlled environment such as a port or mine and over public roads in chaotic urban settings designed as much for horses as motor vehicles. It is natural for governments and regulators to be risk-averse when contemplating such a radical change, but there is a sense…