On Wed, 30 Nov 2005 12:44:09 -0800, "Daniel W. Rouse Jr."
I have posted here many times that I believe technology is the only thing that can save our transportation system. As the story that started this thread proves, we have neither the funds nor the political will to build our way out of traffic congestion. The ONLY way we will ever get out of this mess is to use the roads we have as efficiently as possible - and that means taking the control of the vehicles out of the hands of humans (especially Sloths and buttholes). When the computer controls everyone's steering and throttle, suddenly there are no more LLBs, everybody merges perfectly, there's always a gap when you need one (and it immediately closes up when you don't), following distances are always optimal, and safety is maximized because all the vehicles communicate over a redundant mesh wireless network and KNOW when, for example, a vehicle up ahead is about to slow down - and they all change speed in perfect unison. I call this configuration a "virtual train" because the individual cars on the road will be "coupled" together in an optimal phalanx like railroad cars in a regular train. We'll have all the advantages of today's trains and yet maintain the complete flexibility of the personal automobile.
I just hope I live long enough to see it. ;)
