COULD CHANGE OUR COMMUTE
lead manufacturers behind UK Autodrive, have three cars that can “talk” to each other. They show us how a car can tell the vehicles behind when it performs an emergency stop, to ensure those following brake in plenty of time.
Most impressively, an ambulance can communicate with these prototype vehicles.
When the crew switch on their blue lights, the ambulance warns the self-drive cars it is approaching. Drivers can even see the ambulance approaching on their satnav before it comes into view, giving them plenty of time to get out of the way.
Paramedic Lisa Pringle said: “A lot of people panic when they hear a siren and become very unpredictable. We have to adjust our driving to manage that risk.
“If that means we are a couple of minutes late to a lifesaving call, it can be disastrous, so this technology could make a massive difference for us.”
This ability to communicate with other vehicles – and even traffic lights – could be included on cars in future, just like existing technology such as parking assist.
The aim is not just to improve the driving experience but also to make our roads safer.
As Chris Holmes, senior research manager at Jaguar Land Rover, points out, nearly 1800 people are killed each year on British roads and up to 90 per cent of those deaths are caused by human error.
Chris added: “But we need people to feel safe in these cars too.
“People have to trust this technology for it to succeed.”
After such a polished performance during my ride, I was certainly reassured.