The Road Train

Your remember cars in Minority Report or Total Recall?

Cars that didn't need a driver action to operate them?

Cars which drive itself while you have a lunch, read a book or watch a movie?

Well, soon it will be here, in our lovely Europe! How soon? Within next 10 years, with the trials starting in 2011!

As a part of European Union Safe Road Trains for the Environment initiative (or SARTRE) cars with similar destinations over long highways will be grouped together into road trains. The lead vehicle will be driven by an experienced motorist, like bus or truck driver, that regularly travels that road. One train will include between 6-8 cars. At any time you will be able to join the train. Then the onboard computer takes over the vehicle and you can relax and enjoy your bacon roll.

Simple.

The most exciting is that there is no need for infrastructure investment. All modification would have to be done on the vehicle level.

I can already see myself reading e-book comfortably while behind the wheel.

And last point – despite the project name, cars can exit from car train anytime ;-)

[picture credit: Ricardo UK]