The benefits to society of a fully implemented automated transport system are far-reaching—even astounding! At right is a quick list.. See it as an animation if you wish! Below are some details.

No traffic congestion or gridlock
The ATS system is designed expressly to eliminate stoplights and stop signs on roadways, and congestion on highways, the major causes of traffic jams and gridlock.

Teenagers & kids can travel safely on their own Teenagers below driving age and children will be able to travel in automated vehicles by themselves. Come to think of it, there is no need for driver licenses on automated roadways because every occupant of an automated vehicle is a passenger.

Mobility for the handicap & elderly
Automated vehicles designed for handicap access will make it possible for more severely handicapped persons to travel about freely on their own like anyone else. Older citizens who may have some impairment of vision and slower reaction time will have equal mobility in the automated system and will present less danger to themselves and others.

Improved roadway esthetics
The Automated Transport System would not mutilate and scar the earth nearly as much as conventional interstate highway and municipal streets. This system does not require a RIVER of PAVEMENT and 15 acres of right-of-way per mile. Typically the narrow high velocity roadway would be elevated. Automated vehicles not in use would be parked out of sight. There would be no on-street parking and no open parking lots. All vehicles would be stored in automated garages. The eyesores of gas stations and repair garages would not exist out in the open because these services and facilities would be provided in the parking structures at interchanges and elsewhere. The elevated automated roadways can be made to disappear with landscaping, since the right-of-way is only as wide as the widest vehicle, and the automated roadway requires no shoulders, guardrails, or additional right-of-way to separate vehicles from potential roadside hazards.

Less impact on environment – By its very nature the Automated Transport System offers a wide range of environmental advantages over our conventional automotive and rail systems of transportation involving cars, trucks, buses and trains of all types. This will be discussed in the [ Advanced Section ].

Far fewer accidents, deaths & injuries – PROTECTION FROM IMPAIRED DRIVERS – Automated vehicles may be occupied by people impaired by ALCOHOL or DRUGS, but they will pose no hazard to other travelers.

Lower traffic law enforcement costs – Since vehicle speed and movement is controlled by the system there is no need for police patrol cars to enforce traffic rules and driving. The savings to taxpayers could be enormous and at the same time actual police work could be focused more on crimes instead of babysitting all of us drivers.Here is a list of traffic PROBLEMS that will NOT EXIST on ATS roadways:
• Speeding • road rage • recklessness • DUI
• drag racing • illegal turns • running stop lights
• not using turn signals • sleepy drivers • distracted drivers
• losing control • rollovers • side crashes • head-on collisions

Lower insurance costs – In a fully implemented automated road system, the conditions and behaviors that cause accidents would be minimized so insurance costs could be much lower. It’s possible that ATS adoption would result in a major restructuring of the automotive insurance industry.

Lower emergency health care costs
A substantial part of our public funds (i.e., taxes) goes to pay for emergency response and the emergency medical care of victims of our nation’s 6,328,000 annual car accidents (2003 figure). Most of these funds could be reallocated under a fully implemented AT system. Please see chapter 9 in our web site for more details.

Less dependence on foreign oil
For numerous political and economic reasons, American dependence on foreign oil continues to be very troublesome. The automated system is an opportunity to explore and introduce the use of alternative fuels, including biofuels. As was mentioned earlier, in high-density areas electric motor powered vehicles may alternate between battery and power drawn from electric in the roadway. Such a vehicle may also have solar panels on the hood, roof and trunk surfaces to further reduce energy consumption.

Very large multi-compartment freight vehicles pulled by a single powerful power unit used for long freight hauls could use LIQUID HYDROGEN as a source of energy. This would make the power unit less costly to build and more efficient because it would not carry water and a converter to make its own hydrogen while it is traveling. The same amount of hydrogen has about 12 percent the weight of liquid water. So the same weight of liquid hydrogen would store over (8) eight times the energy as the same weight and volume of water.

Other vehicles could use fuel cells, propane gas, or whatever else might be available. All they have to do is meet safety standards and enable the vehicles they propel to meet acceleration and operating standards.

ATS Benefits to Society (see animation)
1. No traffic congestion or gridlock
2. Teenagers & kids can travel safely on their own
3. Mobility / freedom for the handicapped & elderly
4. Improved roadway esthetics
5. Less impact on environment
6. Far fewer accidents, deaths & injuries
7. Lower traffic law enforcement costs
8. Lower insurance costs
9. Lower emergency health care costs
10. Lower emergency services costs
11. Less dependence on foreign oil

Handicap accessible vehicle
enlarge image and read about this vehicle

Speeding tickets are a thing of the past
in the automated roadways system, where high speed traffic travels at a constant 120 mph

Getty Images photo, licensed to AutomatedTransport.com

Liquid hydrogen powered freighter
enlarge image and read about this vehicle

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