How can a computer reacting to an unknown situation be any worse than a person? As many have pointed out, a computer can have pre-programmed responses to unexpected objects and determine which is the best choice, and be able to reach and impliment that decision at lightspeed. Whereas a human reaction works much slower and there's definitely no guarantee that it reaches the proper one, or any reaction at all, before the incident actually happens.
This is like the I, Robot scenario where the robot chooses Will Smith over the kid due to a better chance of survival. In fact, a lot of this is like an I, Robot scenario. How they work the cars is exactly how I envision this.
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