The BART system is designed to be fully automatic. However each train still has drivers. The reason is because of of other people. Here are a few instances wher

The BART system is designed to be fully automatic. However each train still has drivers. The reason is because of of other people. Here are a few instances where a human operator has been able to do things an automated system would struggle with. Able bodied individuals weren't leaving the priority seating to make room for a disabled person. So the operator first reminded people to make room. After that failed he threatened to leave his cab and make someone leave their seat. A computer couldn't do that. At worst it could halt the train until the cops showed up, which would probably be a sub-optimal way to handle asshole passengers. There was police activity causing a halt to all train service. As a result the operator manually connected their train with one that was already in the station so the passengers could leave. Another situation involved a sick passenger. The paramedics forgot to alert the operator they had picked up the passenger, so the operator had to verify everything was taken care of before departing. In an emergency the paramedics may not have the time or ability to coordinate with central control or whoever oversees the system.