Look Ma, No Hands!

You've seen the Lexus commercials where the car parks itself - as in literally? Well here's something even cooler: cars that drive themselves!

According to monstersandcritics.com, "DaimlerChrysler says it has conducted successful field testing of a car to car communication system with vehicles warning each other of a dangerous situation or obstacle on the road."

Forbes Magazine has also reported (Car Talk, January 29, 2007, page 52) several intriguing possibilities, including these:

• if you approach a car to quickly, your car will automatically brake
• if a car is in your blind spot, an indicator will light on your dashboard or mirror, and your seat will start to vibrate if you turn on your blinker anyway
• if your car breaks down, it will 'notify' other cars fast-approaching whether or not they are in line-sight of you

And with your car's on-board technology and wireless capabilities:

• the local gas station could send movies to your car's DVD player as you fill-up
• you could synchronize your car's music system with your home computer ... or your buddy's ... while driving
• local weather forcasters could really know the weather by monitoring the number of cars with their windshield wipers on high

"The catch," says Forbes, "is that the authorities would also know if a driver were doing 90mph - the car would be broadcasting that information" and raises the intriguing question: "Can a police department get sued for not stopping a speeding driver it knew about who later killed someone?"

Ladies and Gentlemen, fasten your seat belts - it seems we're in for a very interesting ride!