Back to the Future
According to the United Nations Road Safety Collaboration more people die each year from traffic accidents (1.2 million) than from malaria (1 million). Millions more are injured and maimed. In Sao Paulo, traffic jams can stretch well over 100 miles and commute times average between two and three hours a day. With an expanding population and growing car ownership, traffic gridlock is inevitable adding to pollution problems and social frustration. Yet the car is a status symbol used to express ones success in modern society. Could this be about to change?
At Heathrow airport they have just launched a series of driverless pods which take people from the car park to the correct terminal. After hearing so much about Google's driverless car it is exciting to see a Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) system successfully up and running in Great Britain with future plans to incorporate the system in other cities. The future is nearer than you think. Watch this space...
