There's a Far Side Joke in this Somewhere

Here's an interesting article on applying "biomimicry," the imitation of natural systems, to improving car safety: Locusts Inspire Technology That May Prevent Car Crashes [via WorldChanging]

It seems that locusts (like many insects) have hard-wired collision detection systems. A good idea, when you figure that you're going to be flying in rush hour traffic with a few billion of your closest friends.

Given our radical driving-sucks viewpoint here at I HATE CARS, we hasten to point out the most meaningful consequence of such technology:

The system is envisioned as something that would detect approaching danger before a human notices it. The system would sound an alarm so that the driver could take evasive action. "If the situation gets worse, it would apply the brakes, initiate defensive features, such as tensioning of the seatbelts, and arming inside airbags," Rind said.

Fewer fender benders, yes, but what we consider a sign of real progress is taking away control of the vehicle from humans. When such technology is put into place, and when it (inevitably) becomes clear that it is safer than human-controlled vehicles, then we'll really be getting somewhere.