Why are we ok with streets in such slapdash condition in the first place?
Yes I think self driving cars need to handle it, but I also think we aren't handling it.
Self driving cars have the potential to greatly reduce deaths due to accidents and improve accessibility for often ignored segments of our population. It is sad to see it so close, but held back by reasons like this.
Hindsight being what it is .. they should have built a new 8-lane highway a few miles to the West rather than attempting to widen it multiple times (with all the bridge replacements needed) through towns like Temple and Waco. But as the Texas Central Railroad has found, you can't just eminent-domain land in Texas for large infrastructure projects.
Also,
> and right now, no driverless car from any company can gracefully handle rain, sleet, or snow
Good thing the entire US has the weather patterns of the bay area, and never experiences rain, sleet, or snow!