By this I mean, normal plain cars that have an electronic control cirquitry linked to their brakes and cruise control and use that to drive only 1 to 2 feet behind the car in front of them. Length of these road trains could be 2 cars to tens of cars. All slip streaming.
The technology required would be darn inexpensive (how much does a sound cart for your PC cost or a mobile phone) and most cars are fully prepared to take cruise control anyway.
Immediately savings would be 40 % in fuel consumption by cars and an immediate 5 fold increase in the capacity of roads.
Joining and leaving such a road train would be as easy speeding up to the rear of it or just slowly steering to side and move out from the train. The gap would then be filled but the rear part of the train speeding up a little.
No chances in infrastructure are needed and even accidents will be alot less severe if any happen. Why, because you really can't create much speed difference when you are only 1 foot behind the guy in front of you. So a head tail collision would only bend your bumper out of shape a little.
As with these thigns always it needs a group of politicians with gusts.
Wouter
Wouter Hijink Formula 16 NED 243 (one-off; homebuild) The Netherlands
