Don’t put air-conditioning in the car – control the temperature of the road instead….!

It’s fun, but also interesting and entertaining to look at what the futurists and planners had in mind for the future of transport development back in the late 50’s.

It’s interesting because we can reflect on their mindset at the time – they had no worries about pollution or greenhouse gases, less concerns about safety, and a seemingly endless supply of fossil fuels.

Now, our transport planners live in a different environment, with not only environmental conditions, but the needs of people and the types of cars and fuels changing.  Even so, how will their current plans and predictions look to the people of 2072?

Have a look at this short video, called “Magic Highway” produced in 1958, and consider what parts were really “out there”, which predictions sort of came true, and which were “spot on”….

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6pUMlPBMQA

I’ll get you started:

• Radar to avoid collisions – yes. Mercedes-Benz, among others, now have active “Collision prevention assist” .  Read more about this here..

• Self-driving cars.  Yes – Google already has a driverless car that can drive by itself, using GPS, Google Maps, Streetview, a series of cameras and radar.  Read more here..

• Atomic powered cars?  Err, no, that one didn’t happen.

What do you think actually has come to fruition and what was pure fantasy?  Please let us know your comments!

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