[fuzzylogic]

Comparing the software of safety critical systems to your desktop computer software is also apples and oranges.

The number one reason for fatalities on the road is distracted or impaired drivers. These vehicles will be immune from such problems, with both fail-safe and fail-operational backups.

[neverevergiveup]

From your FR name, fuzzy logic, I would speculate you are an AI person - or at least an advocate. The problem is exactly what your ‘fuzzy logic’ name alludes to. Computers just don't do fuzzy logic like humans do, and thus for at least the foreseeable future they will be algorithm-based. There is just no way to define all possible situations with an algorithm.

Regarding impaired drivers, technology could help here with a combination of facial recognition and breathalyzer technology. Wouldn't be perfect, but could be done very well.

The bottom line is that computers and automation can help to make drivers safer, without supplanting drivers. That's preferable, because human oversight and back-up makes computers much safer.