I have seen the future of commuting and I love it.
There is a project being developed in Europe that could solve some of the biggest commuting problems in Atlanta. A solution that would both alleviate traffic congestion while still allowing drivers to take their cars to work.
As I outlined a few weeks ago, the biggest hurdle for wider acceptance to car pooling is the lack of freedom people feel they will have if they don't take their car to work. This solution would solve this problem.
Imagine getting in your car, driving to the interstate then taking a nap in your car. Or hopping on your laptop sending out work emails while you are being "driven" to your office. That could be a reality in the near future.
The SARTRE project (Safe Road Trains for the Environment) is developing a system they call "platooning". Using wireless technology, single commuter cars would enter the freeway and join up with commuting convoys of other vehicles. Once you are a part of the convoy, you can sit back and relax. A lead driver at the front of the line of vehicles handles the rest of the commute for you.
Picture that. A line of dozens of vehicles being driven by a single lead driver. The cars in the convoy would be tightly grouped reducing drag and thus saving commuters fuel. With cars lined up closely, less pavement would be used allowing more room on the roads for other travelers.
The key to this project is the advancement of computer technology in automobiles that would allow them to talk to each other and basically becoming a rail-less train of cars. Most of the technology is here already.
Adaptive cruise control, automatic braking and lane departure systems are already available in a number of vehicles. The next leap of technological advances isn't that far off.
The leaders of the project envision commuters having the ability to enter and exit the convoy whenever they want. For example, you could join a convoy on I-85 at Old Peachtree Road in Gwinnett County. That convoy is going to downtown Atlanta, but you only need to go to Pleasantdale Road With the SARTRE system you will be able to leave the convoy and exit off of the interstate at the Pleasantdale Road exit.
This is far from a pipe dream. Testing has been under way for months and project leaders hope to take the idea onto the interstates of Spain in the summer of 2012.
If successful, the long term benefits could be massive for the metro Atlanta region. Taxpayer funded road improvement projects would be lessened, traffic flow would be increased saving commuters time and money and environmentally there would be less vehicle emissions sent into our air.
Is this a silver bullet to solve all of our traffic woes? No, but it would be a great addition to telecommuting, car pooling and mass transit as commuting options. I for one, would fully embrace this new commuting system. I would love to be able to have the freedom of having my car while also enjoying the benefit of not having to "drive" to work. I'd love to know what you think?
Would you consider joining a driving convoy? Let me know:
mark.arum@coxradio.com
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