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[quote user="schlimm"] And you think automatic vehicle management is cheaper and more fool proof than grade separations?  You know, that is what we have on interstates and expressways.  I wonder if folks back then said, "Can't be done, too expensive.  Let's just have better traffic lights." <div style="clear:both;"></div> [/quote] I think automatic vehicle management is right around the corner as the next big thing.  I am not advocating it.  Actually I dread it, but it is on the way.  It won’t be cheap, and it won’t drive your car.  But it will have many features that control drivers.  The basic principle of the “Red Light Camera” will be part of this system, and connecting this to grade crossings is an obvious application.   <o:p></o:p> There are several potential features to that grade crossing application.  It can warn drivers in advance of the crossing flashers, it can ticket drivers who run the gates and flashers, and it can stop your car if you pass a certain point. If it did the latter, there would be no need for the two former features.  <o:p></o:p> But even if it only did automatic ticketing, it would eliminate the risk-taking cause of grade crossing crashes.  If it automatically stopped your car, it would eliminate all causes of grade crossing crashes.  It would make gates obsolete.       <o:p></o:p> This is simply an idea whose time has come, and it is going to upset a lot of apple carts.  Although this system will not be cheap, this grade crossing control feature would be far cheaper than eliminating grade crossings as a comprehensive solution.  However, some crossing elimination will still be worthwhile in terms of eliminating delays and traffic tie-ups caused by trains.
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