Libby is a mental health nurse serving a required term on a secret government Vehicle Inquest Jury. She harbors a deep distrust of driverless cars after witnessing a fatal accident on Monroe Street. Empathic and protective of the vulnerable, she finds herself constantly clashing with the cold bureaucracy of the jury system.

Jack is a powerful Member of Parliament, the transport minister, and the foreman of the Vehicle Inquest Jury. He embodies the institutional authority driving the transition to autonomous vehicles. Arrogant and utilitarian, he approaches life-or-death decisions as matters of societal cost-benefit analysis rather than human tragedies.

Claire is a pregnant former teacher who is hijacked while traveling in an autonomous vehicle. Experiencing a high-risk pregnancy after numerous previous losses, she is fiercely protective of her unborn child. She initially appears vulnerable but possesses a strong survival instinct and a hidden agenda regarding her recently deceased husband.

Jude is an unhoused former programmer who becomes one of the hijacked passengers. Struggling with severe depression and suicidal ideation, he finds himself trapped in a vehicle on the day he intended to end his life. He shares a unique, pre-existing connection with one of the jurors, which complicates the unfolding public spectacle.

Sofia is a 78-year-old actress who initially misinterprets the hijacking of her vehicle as a surprise casting in a reality television show. Having spent decades curating her public image and managing her husband's dark secrets, she is deeply concerned with perception and fame. Her detachment from reality highlights her vanity and self-absorption.

Heidi is a respected police detective in Bedfordshire whose marriage is quietly crumbling. Trapped in her own hijacked autonomous vehicle simultaneously with her husband, she maintains a calm, analytical demeanor. Behind her professional exterior, she is dealing with personal betrayals and her own secret plans for retaliation.

Sam is a businessman whose seemingly normal marriage to Heidi masks a complex web of deceit. Hijacked in a separate car from his wife, he approaches the crisis with a selfish pragmatism. He is willing to manipulate public opinion and present himself as a victim of societal bias to ensure his own survival.

Victor is a 75-year-old disabled war veteran and cancer patient who relies on an autonomous taxi. His presence among the hijacked passengers shows the indiscriminate nature of the attack and demonstrates the immediate, lethal consequences of defying the captor's orders.

Bilquis is an asylum seeker from Somalia who becomes an unwitting participant in the hijacked convoy. Her fate hinges on a global public vote heavily influenced by skewed information, making her a focal point for the narrative's exploration of xenophobia and snap judgments.

Shabana is a non-English-speaking mother fleeing an abusive marriage. Trapped in a hijacked taxi, she is unable to understand the captor's announcements but clearly recognizes the danger. Her inability to communicate effectively with the outside world compounds her terror as she becomes a target of misguided public intervention.

Fiona is a barrister and a government-appointed member of the Vehicle Inquest Jury. She approaches the jury's grim tasks with a procedural, bureaucratic mindset, focusing on moving deliberations forward. The pressure of a live global broadcast forces her to confront her own biases and personal connections to the victims.

Dr. Matthew Nelson is a pathologist serving on the Vehicle Inquest Jury. He brings a detached, clinical perspective to the group's morbid work but proves to be one of the more reasonable and empathetic jurors. He frequently acts as a stabilizing force, offering support to Libby when tensions escalate.

Muriel is a religious pluralist and a member of the Vehicle Inquest Jury. Her moral framework is heavily influenced by her faith, making her particularly susceptible to emotional appeals and distress over the graphic nature of the crisis. She frequently clutches her crucifix during tense moments.

Alex is a man whose life was derailed by a tragedy involving autonomous vehicles. He carries profound grief and a desire for accountability after his family's vehicle technology business was ruined and his relatives were killed in a collision. His deep-seated resentments reflect the darker consequences of the new technological era.

Cadman is a cynical social media expert activated by the government to monitor global reactions to the hijacking. He views the life-or-death crisis through the detached lens of data analytics, referring to the digital public as the 'sixth juror.' His presence transforms the tragedy into a measurable media event.

An armed police commander who leads the tactical response to the hijacking crisis. He secures the inquest room and enforces a lockdown while coordinating with government officials.

Oscar is Sofia Bradbury's beloved pet dog who accompanies her in her hijacked vehicle. He serves as Sofia's sole physical companion and audience during her terrifying ordeal.

Ben is Claire's husband. His recent passing due to a brain aneurysm is a closely guarded secret that deeply impacts Claire's actions leading up to the hijacking event. He initially purchased the vehicle that Claire is subsequently trapped in.

Patrick is Sofia Bradbury's husband. He is an individual with a dark history whose actions have forced Sofia into a life of constant reputation management and cover-ups to protect her career.

Josie is a woman secretly married to Sam Cole. She represents the hidden half of Sam's double life and struggles with severe health issues, particularly cancer.

Noah is a man whose life was intertwined with the early testing of autonomous vehicles. The destruction of his family's business and his tragic death heavily influence the actions of those left behind.

Stephenie is a woman connected to Jude and the Harris family. Her past relationships create complicated dynamics that reverberate through the tragedy of the Monroe Street crash.

Nia is a colleague and friend of Libby Dixon. She provides Libby with a sense of normalcy and acts as a sounding board regarding Libby's personal life and search for a man she met in a bar.