Where it's been possible to test, closed source code has more bugs than open source code.
I think that you're always going to find this to be the case. For the simple fact that open source programmers are better programmers. Open source programmers either do it by choice in their free time, or are paid to do it by companies who feel that it's worth it to invest back into the community.
The Venn diagram for companies that employ bad programmers and companies that want to contribute back to the community looks like a pair of glasses. Or, to put it another way, the Venn diagram for companies that employ good programmers and the companies that want to give back to the community looks much like a donut.
That isn't to say that close source software can't be good. Microsoft's been doing a lot to improve their software in recent years. Many people don't agree with their UI changes (Windows 8 is terrible if you don't have a touch screen, and I can't stand the ribbon UI), but I don't think there's been any huge problems with stability in recent years. They've even been releasing quite a bit of stuff as open source, and are even in the process of open sourcing the
The first, the driver did not scrape his windows from ice and could not see any of the drivers around him
I see this being a huge problem in nordic countries when it comes to self driving cars as well. Perhaps the self driving car will refuse to operate if the sensors are covered in ice. This would be safer, but would lead to dissatisfaction from a lot of owners as they would have to carefully remove ice from the sensors hoping not to damage them in the process. Then you'd be driving down the road and get covered in spray (salt, dirt, water) from other vehicles and the sensors would become inoperational again. The driver would either have to take over, making the expensive self driving car useless, or pull over to the side of the road and clean the sensor before going on their way. I'd like to see how self driving cars handle snow, salty/dirty/muddy roads, and even a heavy rain. Could the sensors still actually discern what's going on, or do they require hot, dry, sunny, California type weather.
Those who can, do; those who can't, write. Those who can't write work for the Bell Labs Record.