If we're actually serious about this, we should get rid of roads altogether and replace them with rail tracks. That solves 95% of the automation problem anyway.
Even with the largest possible investment in rail, cars will exists in large numbers.
So yeah, rail and cargo tram ways in cities are great. But we can't just leave car infrastructure unchanged.
Specially because existing car infrastructure is already there and cheap to modify. Changing a 6 lane road into a 3 lane road with large space for bikes and people is pretty easy.
Transportation safety is important but it shouldn’t be considered in isolation when there are potentially catastrophic consequences to prioritizing safety at the cost of everything else.
They are not serious. The rails are a great idea, along with drive-able 'rail' cars for individuals.
We have a significantly higher number of derailments. Even the worst European rail is more safe than US rail.
US passenger automobiles are more unsafe.
That it could be even better does not mean it is not a substantial improvement.