Read the newspaper and eat breakfast at 60 mph


This is the promise of Volvo’s road train system of cars that drive themselves.

So-called vehicle platooning involves a convoy of vehicles that follow a lead car driven by a human. Each of the following computer-driven cars, which can disengage at any time with control reverting back to a human driver, automatically measure the distance, speed and direction of the car in front and adjusts accordingly.

Volvo has released a video of the first demonstration this week:

Volvo says road safety would be the most dramatic improvement as it reduces the human error responsible for more than 80 percent of traffic accidents. The drafting effect and more efficient driving may also improve fuel economy by 20 percent.

Another benefit is that following drivers would be freed up to take their eyes off the road entirely. This is especially helpful with so many drivers now trying to use mobile devices while on the roads. Moms could also placate active children.

Legal issues are a hurdle, to be sure, but I can easily see this as the future of driving on Houston’s roadways. We trust computers for just about everything else in our lives. I have no doubt they’ll make better drivers, too.

Categories: The Future
Eric Berger