The debate of driverless versus drivered LRT is a crucial one to consider when talking about LRT for the South Fraser. Since it appears that all LRT implementation images involve the visual of a driver, it is safe to assume that Surrey Council is opting for driver-implemented LRT meaning that there will be someone to drive the light rail train. Both sides of the Yes/No Transit Plebiscite have to look at the safety issues involving street-level LRT.
Driverless LRT though able to increase the volume of trains on existing tracks will only serve to increase the danger of interactions - mainly due to a situation where a computer is still not able to process the information fast enough to prevent a collision unless complicated and expensive collision avoidance systems are implemented. This is especially so at street-level. As Robert A. Heinlein said, "Never underestimate the power of human stupidity." You have to factor in "human decision-making process" in understanding how train/pedestrian/automobile accidents happen and do what you can to reduce the potential of injury/death.
Driver-Operated LRT is probably the safest LRT situation where human response will be crucial in preventing train-human-auto collisions though in many cases with LRT it hasn't mainly due to human reaction not being quick enough. If given enough time to see a track incursion, the train with human driver intervention should be able to stop. The problem is when pedestrians (at the last second) thinking that they can make the crossing without realizing that the train is travelling at a higher speed than they originally thought steps into the track area thus causing a fatal train-pedestrian collision and likewise with a car. Is human reaction quick enough to prevent such a collision? No. Neither are track-brake triggering systems. This is even more important to consider as all evidence points to Surrey not implementing a grade-separated LRT but street-level. This means that "accidental" interactions with passengers and other road vehicles will be considerable.
Compare this with the track incursions on Skytrain, where people deliberately put themselves in harm's way with a track incursion; deliberate suicides. But there are considerably less fatalities on Skytrain than on LRT by someone being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Will the Mayor's Council be able to justify its choice with the citizens of Surrey and Langley when the accidental interactions with street-level LRT and pedestrians/automobiles increase potentially tenfold over the next few years after implementation?
Rail For The Valley - Light rail – The safest public transit mode! is already trying to justify this. Maybe the Mayor's council can look for excuses by reading this article.
The City of Surrey has plunged head-long into this without proper research, relying on unsubstantiated slander of Bombardier's ALRT system, blatant disregard of public opinion and substantiated un-biased Surrey Rapid Transit Report, and pushed an emotional sales-pitch for it's pro-LRT stance "by hell or high water". One can only hope that they are not making a colossal mistake and compounding it by trying to justify the worst possible solution to transit South of the Fraser.
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