(I'm not a lawyer, but "We created an optical illusion directing people to crash into a wall, so those victims should have been paying attention and figuring it out" doesn't strike me as a robust defense in court.)
the state of the roads isn't what is stopping self driving cars. considering the amount of road construction going on at any one time no amount of markings are going to help, then toss in rain, bad lighting, and snow.
No, what is holding them back is the programming and processing power that cars are expected to mount. As humans can drive with on their sense of sight cars will have the advantage of sight that see in conditions people cannot plus also have maps available at all times which should give guidance on where the roads really are.
The roads are deteriorating foil is typical election year crying. the bridges and roads are much improved since the 90s and the key fact most writers and readers of these articles don't understand is, the federal government does not have domain over many of the roads that need maintenance.
The autopilot will look for lane markings or road surface edges, but seems to favour following the vehicle in front where possible. This especially helps drive better in rainy weather where road markings are obscured by reflections.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barra_Airport_%28Scotland%29
It does have scheduled flights - but the schedule has to take account of the tides.
Then we have to wish automatic cars have a Jeremy Clarkson mode
Point Road, Nelson was the one that really caught me out though. It looks significantly different between Satellite and Map modes: https://www.google.co.nz/maps/place/Point+Rd,+Monaco,+Nelson...