>That question comes up with the existing systems. Maximum braking skids the
>wheels,  quickly wearing flatspots on them. So, the engineer is thinking,
>"I'm going to hit that idiot parked on the crossing anyway? Why screw up
>several hundred railcars in the bargain?"
>

No, the engineer is usually far more worried about:

a) psychological impact (terrible situation - to be supposedly in control,
but
actually able to do nothing - great guilt maker)

b) post crash investigation - My experience is, most RR employees could
care less about cost to RR compared to cost to their own career.