| If automated cars stop just one drunk driver
| from killing someone, I think the whole
| invention will be worth it if only for just that.
That's a valid concern but sensors and computing hardware is becoming so inexpensive it's possible to have two or more redudant systems that check each other's results before causing an action (or if one fails).
That is how the space shuttle's computers worked based on 1980s technology, I think there were six of them checking each other's results.
Because I've come to realize people are just going to drive drunk no matter what the penalties may be and judges are going to keep letting them back on the road. So maybe robots will cause better behavior despite some horrible people in society.