Herbie 2008

Cars stuck in traffic or on slippery roads will be able to communicate with other vehicles in a bid to cut down on traffic jams and road accidents, under European Commission plans unveiled Tuesday.
"Today's commission decision is a decisive step towards meeting the European goal of reducing road accidents," said EU Telecoms Commissioner Viviane Reding.

The commission believes that the agreed communication system could also save lives.
In 2006, more than 42,000 people died and more than 1.6 million were injured in road accidents in the European Union.

Selmayr said the technology already existed and now the automobile and telecoms industries could work on putting it in cars, something that had been impossible before the pan-European band-width was made available.

While he would not put a date on its availability to car users a European source said it was hoped it could be available by 2010-2011.