An automatic driving system that has just been road-tested for the first time in Sweden would link cars together into road trains or “platoons” to form semi-autonomous convoys under the control of a professional lead driver. The hope is that average road speeds can be reduced, improving fuel consumption and cutting congestion.

Each car is fitted with a navigation and communication system which measures the car’s speed and direction, constantly adjusting them to keep the car within a set distance of the vehicle in front. All commands to steer or change speed come from the driver of the lead vehicle and are carried out automatically.