Truck-based road trains are currently used for long-distance transport in rural Australia and in several other countries; they are created by physically connecting several trailers or semi-trailiers to the lead tractor unit.
The EU is proposing a different type of "train," which would be comprised of a mixture of trucks, buses, and passenger cars closely following one another in a slipstream, much as race cars do at professional tracks. The project's acronym is SARTRE (SAfe Road TRains for the Environment).
The idea, of course, is to improve fuel economy and to relieve congestion by allowing a greater number of vehicles to occupy a given area of the roadway. But notice how this concept also solves the problem of texting-while-driving, by removing the "driving" component and allowing the driver to spend his/her entire time texting. Sounds perfectly logical to me. What could possibly go wrong?
Link
Addendum January 2011: The BBC is reporting that field trials using real vehicles have now gotten underway in Sweden.
The EU is proposing a different type of "train," which would be comprised of a mixture of trucks, buses, and passenger cars closely following one another in a slipstream, much as race cars do at professional tracks. The project's acronym is SARTRE (SAfe Road TRains for the Environment).
The lead vehicle would be handled by a professional driver who would monitor the status of the road train. Those in following vehicles could take their hands off the wheel, read a book or watch TV, while they travel along the motorway. Their vehicle would be controlled by the lead vehicle.
The idea, of course, is to improve fuel economy and to relieve congestion by allowing a greater number of vehicles to occupy a given area of the roadway. But notice how this concept also solves the problem of texting-while-driving, by removing the "driving" component and allowing the driver to spend his/her entire time texting. Sounds perfectly logical to me. What could possibly go wrong?
Link
Addendum January 2011: The BBC is reporting that field trials using real vehicles have now gotten underway in Sweden.
Once the lead vehicle is in charge, the driver of the car is seen taking his hands off the wheel, reading a newspaper and sipping coffee as the journey proceeds.
Having said that, set up properly this might be workable though I'd find it very unnerving at first.
This morning I passed a Winnebago pulling an SUV pulling a speedboat and that made me nervous...
If I could have joined a road-train even for an hour or so I'd have jumped at the chance.
Read the article. They aren't chained together. They're linked by an electronic network. The participating vehicles are fitted with electronic controls that, when part of a "train," are operated by the lead vehicle.
No one's being towed.
http://www.hypermiler.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=68&Itemid=64