GM pledges end to car crashes 19 | 10 | 2011

CAR CRASHES WILL become a thing of the past; that, at least, is the belief of General Motors’ R&D chief Alan Taub.

"By the middle of the next decade, vehicles that partially drive themselves will be available," Taub said.

And he believes the fully autonomous vehicles, utilising GPS systems, sensors, radars and cameras will “supply critical information to the driver and car’s computer systems to provide added convenience by partially or even completely taking over the driving duties."

And Taub, who is convinced the new developments are aimed primarily at improving occupants' safety, stressed "systems will eliminate the crash altogether, by interceding on behalf of drivers before they’re even aware of a hazardous situation”.

Work at GM is already at an advanced stage, with work on the Chevrolet-badged EN-V concept – now in its second generation – underway.

According to GM, thanks to the vehicle’s GPS with vehicle-to-vehicle communications and distance-sensing technologies, the EN-V can be driven manually or autonomously, which “could reduce vehicle crashes” and “reduce traffic congestion."

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Jim McGill