Time Travel discussion

The BBC has an interesting article up about what we'll be driving in 2050:

http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20131...

Driverless cars, software-controlled fleets, hydrogen-powered cars, tiny cars that don't rely on fossil fuels ...

I'm particularly dubious about the idea of the "Road Train" where a lead vehicle controls a fleet of vehicles behind it. It might work okay on the highway, but what happens when it hits an area with a traffic light and not all the cars can pass through before the light turns red? If the driver is texting on their phone, reading a book, watching a movie, etc. and not paying attention, this would surely result in moments of chaos. I suppose that there could be an announcement over your radio telling you, "Warning. Warning. Your vehicle has disconnected from the fleet." You'd hope the warning wasn't too late to react. I mean, what if you were busy necking in the backseat or something? Anyhow ...

I do like the idea of the "personal mobility portfolio" (page 2) that allows people to ride share or hail driverless cars on the street.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FY85e...

We watched Star Trek Into Darkness with the kids (say what you will about the film) but at street level in the San Francisco scenes, the cars, and perhaps more so the roads, seemed familiar. There was a mix of hovering vehicles, but I was surprised at how little innovation there was along the pavement. It's very possible that without a driving need for a new vehicle type, the cars, buses, and trains of 2050 may only be variations of what we have now (at least from the outside).

I've actually had plenty of time to contemplate this topic while stuck in bumper to bumper traffic because of yet another accident on I-4 here in Florida, or trying to get anywhere at any hour in Los Angeles. I am 100 percent confident that we can design cars that are better drivers than people. No question. The challenge will be getting everyone to sign on at once. My thought is that they will first have a design specific lanes for automated traffic. Once people realize they can link up and be traveling at 200 mph in perfect synchronization versus starting in stopping for 45 minutes because someone ahead wanted to slow down to look at an accident on the opposing side of the highway, then they'll want in.
I know that I would be fine with getting in my car, punching my destination into the GPS and reading a book while my vehicle conveys me there.
I think the biggest hazard to the system will be people claiming the car was on autopilot when they wreck it, and trying to sue everyone silly. The potential lawsuit situation will take longer to resolve than designing the technology.

2050...I hope people use cars for fun...your typical person will teleport to work...or at least get on the "train" I hate driving!

I will still be driving my Jeep Wrangler.
No matter what happens in the future.
;)