> it can make sense to avoid certain mistakes at all costs (self-driving car), but it never makes sense to try to avoid blame for them

Eh? As you say, it's a culture thing, and the culture of a lot of humans is that the mistake only matters if you take blame for it. Plenty of people and organisations put more effort into avoiding blame for things than the thing itself.

Blame-free culture is great, but it has to be actively maintained.