That's not what I put. Google is already developing a self drive car, one that doesn't need a human at the wheel. In this case the system would be automatic, and not involve the nominal human driver at all. Each vehicle would measure the distance to the one in front, so each knows if it has to start braking. The trucks would also share data on conditions and the view of the road ahead, so if a cow wandered onto the road in front of the convoy they would all know within milliseconds.

Similarly if one vehicle had a component failure it would tell the others and they would take appropriate action. The driver could go to sleep, much extending the distance he could travel.

I certainly would not suggest someone ride the bumper of an articulated lorry, that would be plain dangerous, humans need time to react to changes in the conditions around them. That would not be the case with computer driven vehicles.

sitting behind hgv's at 55mph.. passs, its boring and dangerous, you cant see past them, if they anchor up or worse hit something you haven't seen and you are too close like most you'll cream into the back of it and that wont be pretty.. being bored behind it means you are less likely to notice it suddenly stopping as well.. not good. I certainly wouldn't be following one with blind faith that the driver is going to be ok.

I'll be in my 5 series ploughing past at 80 leptons (given the right conditions) in lane 3 looking miles ahead for signs of trouble and save myself 17 mins over 50 miles (life's to short to be sat behind the wheel for longer than needed and thats probably 25% quicker than at 55!)... plus it keeps you alert as things are happening, you are changing lanes, actually driving and being aware of whats around..

I think you glanced at my post and didn't actually read it.

Note I did say "not tailgating". I can see what's ahead better than the man in the 3rd lane where everything is passing by in a blur.

Not only can I see whats ahead but because I'm reading the road ahead and anticipating the lorry's actions I am actually able to come to a stop well before plowing into it at 80 "leptons".

The outside lane of the motorway is the safest place because you avoid the dim witted, unsure and dangerous drivers that haven't got a clue sat veering in and out between the inner and middle lane (or more noticeably, sat hogging the middle lane for no reason). I've had whole journeys where I've not had to move back out of the outside lane except when the motorway is empty and just breezed past traffic. It's both the fastest and safest lane by far. All this talk people come out with of anything over 70mph being too fast/dangerous is utter bull, and Binary Shadow is right that you do concentrate and pay more attention. The simple fact is drivers are ill educted for motorway travel in the UK, I know a few people that are too scared to even drive on the motorway! I'm sure the German's all live in fear for their lives on the autobahn though

I find the worst drivers are those on cruise control in the outside lane for no reason.

In particular those who doing an indicated 85mph believe they are going fast enough for anyone.

I call them the "enforcers". They're twats plain and simple.

Overtake and move the hell over, hardly difficult to fathom. If they are unable to do so without feeling that they are putting their lives in danger, they shouldn't be on the bloody roads.

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On autobahn it is very important to keep an eye on the mirror,  there is allways someone driving faster than you.

People forget this while driving anyway, motorway or not, which is exactly the reason there are so many plonkers that simply sit in one lane oblivious to traffic coming up on them or around them. You should always be checking your mirrors and assessing traffic around you.

Interesting video, though they don't mention tax's:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00ys7vs

The outside lane of the motorway is the safest place because you avoid the dim witted, unsure and dangerous drivers that haven't got a clue sat veering in and out between the inner and middle lane (or more noticeably, sat hogging the middle lane for no reason). I've had whole journeys where I've not had to move back out of the outside lane except when the motorway is empty and just breezed past traffic. It's both the fastest and safest lane by far. All this talk people come out with of anything over 70mph being too fast/dangerous is utter bull, and Binary Shadow is right that you do concentrate and pay more attention. The simple fact is drivers are ill educted for motorway travel in the UK, I know a few people that are too scared to even drive on the motorway! I'm sure the German's all live in fear for their lives on the autobahn though

Most of the 'dim witted, unsure and dangerous drivers' I've been subjected to seemed to sit in the fast lane and treat the other two for undertaking purposes and cutting people up when leaving the motorway.