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A fleet of self-driving trucks rumbles across Europe Trucks "platooning" across the Netherlands. Credit: Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment Platooning in the U.S. still four to five years out By Lucas Mearian Computerworld | Apr 7, 2016 2:24 PM PT A caravan of about a dozen self-driving, semi-trailer trucks for the first time finished a trip across parts of Europe this week. The autonomous truck challenge was organized by the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment and included rigs from six manufacturers, including Volvo, Daimler and Volkswagen subsidiary Scania. The convoy journeyed from manufacturing facilities in Belgium,...

Swedish carmaker Volvo wants to let drivers kick back, take their hands off the wheel, and catch up on a little TV while barreling down the motorway, all in the name of improving road safety, The Local's Geoff Mortimore explains. Have you ever thought how nice it would be during those long motorway drives through Sweden if you could take your hands off the wheel, put your feet up, perhaps watch some TV, or surf the web? As it turns out, the day when "driving" without keeping your eyes on the road may be possible sooner than previously thought thanks...