Your example with cars would only make sense if a software bug put a driver in direct danger without giving them time to be responsible and mitigate the danger.

Your example with cars would only make sense if a software bug put a driver in direct danger without giving them time to be responsible and mitigate the danger. In almost all situations, even with modern technology in cars, it's the driver's responsibility to drive/steer/brake to mitigate the danger. How many pieces of software exist in this world where there is zero chance of even a catastrophic bug causing harm to humans? I would bet most of the existing pieces fit this description. Now apply that question to works of civil engineering, and you have a different picture.