Tests to start on cars that drive themselves

Tests will start next year on cars that "drive themselves" in an initiative which could become a reality within 10 years.

Co-ordinated by a UK company, the EU project is called Sartre (Safe Road Trains for the Environment) and involves a "carpooling" roadtrain theory for use on motorways.

The roadtrain would consist of six to eight vehicles whose occupants would be able to relax, read the paper or chat on mobile phones while travelling.