In the 1990’s a new system was being developed for safer travel on the roads in America. By 1991 the American Congress passed the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act, which authorized $650 million to be spent over the course of the next six years on developing the technology that would be needed for driverless cars running on an automated highway. They hoped to develop a system that would be capable of driving vehicles on the motorways by themselves in a pre-determined route. This system was planned to significantly reduce distances necessitated between vehicles, as a result the systems would be able to relieve traffic congestion. Such systems were to be combined with adaptive cruise control and collision avoidance systems. The idea was to use the automated highway system (AHS) which is an Intelligent transportation system, that sought to remove human drivers from the operation of vehicles during driving. Special magnets were to be embedded in the asphalt every four feet which would transfer signals between vehicle and the main computer system. Steering, acceleration and braking would be controlled by sensors, computer navigation systems and cameras along the side of the road. Thus, control would only be returned to drivers at their specified exit.
Researchers and government officials claimed they had the technological capability to address any potential problem with the system. However, there was one challenge that they had yet to address and that was to get people to comfortably trust the system! They believed they had the technology but they couldn’t find a way to persuade people to trust the system. No one was willing to hand over control and travel at high speeds, closely spaced through city centres. People did not trust the system. This lack of trust is what stalled the production and implementation even though millions of dollars were spent on research and testing. King Solomon says in the book of Proverbs chapter 3 verse 5 ‘Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.’ The living God asks us to trust him with all the decisions of life and that for many people is too difficult to do just like the automated car. God wants people to come to him with their problems and leave them with him. To trust in him to solve them and believe that he knows what is best for man. People on the other hand like to have control. They do not want to give up their independence they prefer to think they control their destiny. They want to try and work things out to suit their way of life. To feel that they are running their lives according to their wishes. Man certainly does not want to imagine that there is someone else in control. God is who is in control and man needs to lean and rest upon. The wisest man in the world says trust in the Lord. That is what is needed in our lives. Trust means letting go of our lives and allowing God the automated control.
P. Pilgrim pilgrimway101@yahoo.com
