More Free Time on the Freeway

June 16 2011 by Chris McGinnis


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Best Western's most loyal customers are much more likely to drive than fly when traveling on business, which makes me wonder.... What if all that time we spend behind the wheel of a car could be used to grow our businesses, or just be more productive?

Well, that day might be just around the corner. According to an article in Fast Company, Volvo is working on a new concept that bunches up several wirelessly connected cars in single file "vehicle platoons" that follow a lead car. (See video above.)

Cars would be equipped with software that allows the lead car to control the steering, acceleration and braking of all cars in the platoon via a wireless connection. A professional driver would drive the lead car, with a "road train" of cars following closely behind.

This means that once your vehicle connects with the platoon, it begins driving itself, and you can focus your attention on work, phone calls or your laptop. While users could just as easily use the time to read, eat, watch a movie or take a catnap, imagine the blocks of time freed up by an advance like this.

A concept like this wouldn't be practical for short hops or commutes. But imagine the time it would free up on those long haul routes, like the slog between Denver and Kansas City, the long hot trek along the Florida Turnpike, or on the long flat stretch of Highway 401 between Detroit and Toronto?

What do you think? Would you be willing to cede control of your car or truck to one of these platoons in the future?


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