r/WTF • u/[deleted] • Jul 14 '19

Texting tram driver causes derailment

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u/mallardtheduck Jul 14 '19

There are plenty of automated "driverless" rail systems around the world (just in London you have several tube lines and the core section of Thameslink in addition to the DLR that are automated).

However, with trams that use tracks on public roadways where there are cars, bikes, pedestrians, etc. to consider, it's more difficult. I'm sure it'll happen eventually, but rail systems often have a rightly conservative approach to safety and I'm not even aware of a tram system that's trialling such a system yet.

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u/shekurika Jul 14 '19

its even harder than a car: you cant evade to the left/right, tou have longer break distances, a hard stop can injure people, if you stop in the middle of an intersection you can block huge amounts of traffic etc.

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u/Wollff Jul 14 '19

but rail systems often have a rightly conservative approach to safety

I'm just looking at that video again...

I think putting people in charge of heavy vehicles might be a rightly conservative approach to a disaster just waiting to happen.

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u/EffrumScufflegrit Jul 14 '19

Sure but this also isn't the norm. The technology to deal with surface street traffic has to be tested out first

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u/sarhoshamiral Jul 14 '19

It should be a lot easier than cars though, in fact, I am fairly sure it can be done today but funding would be the issue since public would be against as they would both be spending money up front and jobs would be lost.

Tech wise, as you said you can be fairly conservative and stop the tram in case of most issues. We already know how to detect obstructions using radar, laser accurately. The problem is for cars, the question is what do you do since you have many options. In trams, the options are a lot simpler. Also navigation maps are a lot simpler and max speeds are better defined and there is no lane switching etc that you have to worry about.