New developments

Motor journalists

Toyota Celica

Prince: "Smoking kills"
We do not think the printing of warnings that vehicle are killers, are the right way for the new developments. We further do not think the automatic speed limitations in some car models as Volvo at 250 km/hour is improving safety.

The GPS cruise control to get a warning in front of all Automatic Traffic Control photo boxes (ATC) is available to make it less risky to drive over the speed limit. We do not think this is the right way to go.

By the GPS technology the Swedish Vägvesen is testing out a system to tell the vehicle automatically the speed limit and to make it difficult to go faster for the driver. It is left to be seen if this system will work in a proper manner. The next question would be, if the Authorities dear to introduce this system on all cars.

Danish insurance companies use the GPS technology for giving reduced insurance cost.

Using the GPS technology, an automatic data logger may be developed for the use in cars. This may log relevant data as speed, position and speed limit during the last one hour of driving. In case of an accident, the police can then get detailed data for the driving in front of the accident. The data on the logger should also be available during routine police controls on the road.

Dynamic speed limits

One possible option is to introduce dynamic speed limits adjusted to the present condition at the road. This could include regards to present traffic load, road friction factor, light conditions, etc.

Automatic brakes

Volvo and Toyota are in the process to develop automatic braking in the case the car is approaching other items and the driver does not stop.

Infrared picture in the dark

BMW is developing a system showing an infrared picture on the front glass of animals and pedestrians in the dark in front of the car.

Automatic alcohol test of driver

Nissan and other car companies are working to get an automatic alcohol test of the driver. This may result in a system which makes it difficult for the driver to drive with alcohol in the blood. Se also here.

Three were killed in this Audi TT, which hit a large tree at over 120 km/hour. The driver had 1,9 g/l of alcohol in his blood. The speed limit at this place is 50 km/hour. (Photo: Adrian Ohrn Johansen, Dagbladet)

Automatic alcohol test of this driver could have saved 3 lives of young people, one boy driver and two nice girls. Left behind was the parents of the two girls, their only two children.

Black box in each car

A black box may be installed in each car based on GPS. The black box have included a data logger recording the speed and the speed limit on the actual road. This black box may be controlled by the police on regular basis and after an accident. This system will reduce the motivation for speeding over allowed speed limit under the condition that the data loggers are controlled on a regular basis and relevant charges are given for too high speed. An alternative is to connect this system to the insurance company.

Electronic help systems

Some cars have electronic systems giving alert in the case the distance to the car in front is to small depending of the speed. Other systems help parking or assist in dangerous situations.

In the future we can imagine electronic connections between cars driving as a train at the same speed. The first car is the real driver and the rest is just following automatically. When a car shall off the main road it is disconnected.

The technology has large possibilities to improve safety on the roads. In the long term it is only the imagination and the will which set the limits.

Lexus shows the way

The new model of Lexus takes the steering wheel in "own hands". The car has a radar in front and rear. It has further cameras keeping an eye on the mid line of the road as well as the line on the side of the road. When the car is driven on "autopilot" the car take over the steering wheel and keep the speed set by the driver. If the car get another car in front, the autopilot reduce the speed to keep a safe distance to the car in front.

The driver is not allowed to be distracted by other things. A camera is checking that the driver is looking on the road and keeps at least one finger on the steering wheel. If not, the alarm goes. If this does not help the car may be stopped automatically.

When it comes to the parking, the autopilot may do the job when the driver regulate the speed.

So far the car does not have an automatic speed limit reader which prohibit the car to drive over speed limits. It is left to be seen if this will be included in the next model.

The consequence of a safe traffic

The consequence of a safe traffic where the electronics has taken over most of the driving, is that the driver, to a great degree, is transferred to be a passenger. This does not have the components of childish joy and excitements as present car environment. The car journalists would say the driving in such a car is boring. The car would loose the function as being a tool to get rid of the frustration due to the boss or the wife or the children or a bad day.

To avoid these clear disadvantages connected to a coming boring safe traffic, the solution could be the building of separate car racing areas. Here the drivers could go with their cars and get their childish joy of driving.

Presumably the insurance company would step off at the gate and the traffic police, automatic photo boxes and other sophisticated electronic safety devices should be prohibited. Here the "Autofil" fans and similarities could dominate. We others could be left on the public roads for a safe car ride back home. It is left to be seen where and when the fist "Autojoy" area will be inaugurated.

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