What is the advantage of vehicle platooning?
Studies show that platooning significantly reduces the drag that each vehicle experiences resulting in less fuel consumption, greater fuel efficiency and less pollution. From a safety standpoint, the constant monitoring and updates among the vehicles in the platoon, estimated at 50 times per second, reduces the impact among vehicles in case of a crash and provides reaction times much faster than humans.
Will you know if you are traveling near a platoon?
Probably not, but platooning vehicles may be marked with signage to indicate they are potentially traveling together.
What happens if a smaller vehicle like a car cuts in between the platooning trucks?
Platoon trucks will be equipped with Adaptive Cruise Control which results in automatic braking. The truck following the cut-in car will adjust to a safe following distance. Studies have shown that cut-ins and cut-offs might even be reduced since the platooning trucks are traveling more closely.
Won’t a long convoy of vehicles cause more congestion?
Studies have shown that platooning leads to a reduction in the amount of space used by a number of vehicles on a highway. Thus more vehicles can use the highway without traffic congestion.
Are drivers in all vehicles in the convoy?
Yes. By law, If the platoon includes commercial motor vehicles, an appropriately endorsed driver who holds a valid commercial driver license (CDL) must be present behind the wheel of each vehicle.
How many vehicles are considered a platoon?
Two or more.
What happens if an incident or malfunction occurs?
The driver will still be in control of the vehicle and react accordingly.
Can they travel on all the roads in Indiana?
Yes. They can travel on all Indiana State Roads and Interstates.