I think the Amtrak derailment in Philadelphia last month should temper a lot of optimism about these “self-driving” cars. If we can’t even develop and install a safety system to prevent a train from operating at twice the safe speed on a controlled fixed-rail right-of-way, I don’t see how anyone can have faith in these Google cars to operate safely under much more complex conditions.
Oh we can install a safety system to prevent a train from operating at twice the safe speed. Problem is it wouldn’t be able to join the union. Which is why their answer is trains need TWO drivers.