For the first time, Google’s self-driving car takes some blame for a crash

[SteveG1988]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odA_EVwVycU

[Pete from Boston]

We don't even have fully automated trains yet outside of subway/monorail systems despite trains not needing to worry about free form turns, merging, etc, since all of that is done by track switches and not the train. Additionally, the railroad controls what types of trains are allowed on it, so there is no issue of mixing old and new equipment as with cars. Even most "driverless" subway systems have an operator on board at all times. So I suspect driverless cars are pretty far off.

Yeah, we definitely need to do this in a tiered approach:

• Automate grade-separated metro lines (no crossings). Already done in some areas (Vancouver is very famous for its automated, 3-line system).
• Automate railroads (metro and light rail lines as well) that do not run in traffic but do have at-grade crossings.
• Automate light rail lines and streetcars that run in mixed traffic.
• Automate buses on fixed routes
• Automate buses doing demand response services (DART/dial-a-ride/paratransit)
• Automate regular automobiles

Sliding up the difficulty scale a bit between light rail and buses, but it's doable.

There's been talk here in Seattle about automating our future light rail lines (which could be built to be fully grade-separated) and leaving the current one (with its at-grade crossings) as a driver-operated one until technology catches up.

Won't driverless buses require crimeless cities?