Cars are so packed full of computers these days, it’s a surprise that they haven’t already been programmed to talk to each other to avoid idiot drivers driving them off the road. Well, it turns out the technology exists, and South Australia is trialling the technology for three months.
Created by Aussie company Cohda Wireless, each of the 100 cars in the trial is fitted with a small box that uses GPS and Wi-Fi signals to determine a car’s proximity to other vehicles, and raises an audio alert when the car starts getting a little too familiar with its roadside companions.
If all goes well, we could apparently be seeing the technology in cars by 2015. Of course, it won’t completely eradicate road fatalities, but if it helps avoid any type of accident (which it surely will), then it will totally be worth it.
[ZDNet]
Troy
Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 11:23 AMCould it also talk to pedestrians’ phones to find out where they are if you’re going at fast speeds?
James Mac
Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 12:13 PMIt could also talk to police and your insurance companies to notify them if you’ve gone over the speed limit.
Mike
Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 12:50 PMI just cant wait for this to go wrong. We see truck drivers driving up mountain passes and people driving into pools “because my GPS said so”. Now we’ll have people driving and “I crashed because my car said you weren’t there”.
I’m all for technology, but exactly what is your car going to do if it detects another car coming at it? Swerve? Then the car next to you will swerve away from you, then eventually the entire street has mounted the curb because someone cut a corner by 10mm, or hasnt updated to the latest version of Swervatron 2011 v2.1.3 gah
James Barch
Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 1:29 PMI am sory nick, but as arrogant as you are, you can not predict that “it won’t completely eradicate road fatalities, but if it helps avoid any type of accident (which it surely will)”
gees man, this site is meant to be about news, not the rampent thoughts of a 14 year old!
who knows, it might even create accidents that we have not seen before!
damo
Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 2:36 PMI thought it was a tech blog?? That’s not the same as news.
What’s your problem with Nick? No one is forcing you to read his posts.
Joshua
Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 3:49 PMWho defines what Gizmodo posts? The editor. And you spelt rampant wrong. Which makes you the 14 year old here. If you want news, go here: http://www.smh.com.au/
chris
Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 9:28 PMthe 2 guys above me said it all..
David Shears
Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 4:07 PM@James Mac. It sounds like a great idea to me… Nothing worse than sone idiot driver who thinks he’s Mark Webber zipping in and out of traffic.
@Mike. These devices are not going to take over the wheel, they are simple audio notifications and possibly some kind of brake assist (like the ones currently being installed in some luxury cars)
@James Barch. Thats why these devices are in trial, so they can work out any issues. And to say that they could cause more accidents reaching a bit dont you think? People said the same things about seatbelts and airbags.
James Mac
Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 5:35 PMEver overtaken someone David?
Want to be fined for doing so?
Michael
Friday, June 3, 2011 at 7:46 AMDon’t install one then, or, when busted, be a man and own up to the fact that you were speeding. Going over the speed limit, no matter the situation, is an offence.