Sam Schwartz, a former New York City traffic commissioner and self-described traffic engineer, embraces autonomous vehicles as inevitable. Yet his book 'Autokill' presents a chilling counter-narrative where self-driving cars become dangerous threats. Drawing on decades of experience managing urban congestion, Schwartz argues that our rush to automate transportation ignores critical vulnerabilities.

He explores how hackers, software glitches, or even deliberate sabotage could transform fleets of autonomous vehicles into coordinated hazards. The book examines potential failure modes—from sudden traffic gridlock to targeted attacks—and what society must do to prevent catastrophe. Schwartz's warning arrives as tech companies accelerate deployment of self-driving systems despite ongoing safety debates.

His perspective blends engineering expertise with dystopian foresight, challenging readers to consider whether relinquishing control to machines is truly progress or perilous overconfidence.