Filed under: Concept Cars, Gadgets, Geneva Motor Show, Safety, Tech, First Drive
Geneva '08 Preview: Pininfarina Sintesi does away with traffic signs
by Noah Joseph on Feb 12th 2008 at 1:57PM 
We always knew it would be the Italians who would figure out a way to do away with traffic lights and stop signs. The latest in the slow reveal of Pininfarina's upcoming Sintesi concept highlights what the design firm calls Clancast. The system – which, as it strikes us, would need to be fitted to every vehicle on the road in order to work at all – communicates automatically with other cars on the road to coordinate traffic in a decentralized manner, thereby obviating the need for stop signs, traffic lights and all manner of roadside signalization that we all studied so hard to learn for our driving exams.
We presume Pininfarina will have more details when the concept is fully unveiled at the Geneva show, now just three weeks away. But until then, you can check out the Sintesi virtual magazine online to see what Pininfarina is on about.
[Source: Pininfarina]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Polly Prissy Pants 2:01PM (2/12/2008)
It's a great idea for sure. Imagine how many barrels of oil we could save if we coordinated traffic signals and got rid of "traffic calming" devices? Unfortunately, like it was pointed out, every vehicle on the road would have to be equipped for this to work, and 'every' of anything is very hard to do.
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meshies 2:10PM (2/12/2008)
No its not hard, its impossible. I dont understand the whole concept as of now but it seems ridiculous.
Andrew Tanasescu 2:10PM (2/12/2008)
I can see the headlines now. Toyota recalls 200,000 vechiles due to glitch
Seriously though, I wouldnt trust it.
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fannibal 2:16PM (2/12/2008)
I am moving to the nation that first implements this idea. I am sick and tired of idiots who cut me off while driving 20 mph faster than me in rush hour traffic, only to come to a stop at the next light because they can't comprehend that light patterns are the same every day.
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Qrock 2:23PM (2/12/2008)
haha I always find those pini's so overdesigned!
might as well get some leopard print seatcovers on it or something --> http://www.shearcomfort.com/ lol
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Andrew 2:30PM (2/12/2008)
If you're at that point, you might as well just make the cars drive themselves.
As for the dolts who think it's impossible, you're a dolt.
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Menice 2:47PM (2/12/2008)
it's still rasther be in front of you then behind you.. do you have any idea how slow to accelerate you are!!
j/k man.
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L.Wood 2:48PM (2/12/2008)
The real dolts are the ones willing to give up freedoms all over the place to benefit the common good. At some point the dolts will have given up all of their freedoms; and, at that point, they will come to grips with what it meant to live in the Soviet Union. Yes, it sounds a little far fetched, but history would indicate it is a distinct possibility.
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Menice 2:50PM (2/12/2008)
my comment w/fof fannible.
I JUST WANT TO 'REPLY'
why cant i reply oh great blog god!
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JW 3:15PM (2/12/2008)
That would mean getting places later too...I can already see everyone going the speed limit and never over, in order for those things to work we would have to go at it in a synchronized way. No thanks, I like my freedom to speed and get a ticket.
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tbyron 3:25PM (2/12/2008)
Man, I wish the light patterns in San Diego were the same everyday. Instead, we get "traffic actuated" lights that stop the flow of traffic every time and as soon as one single car has to come off a lightly traveled side street or wants to make a left turn.
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Rick 4:04PM (2/12/2008)
So, what happens? People's cars tell them to stop and they stop where ever they are? And if people fail to hear the car's warning they crash? Or do these cars stop without user feedback? No thanks.
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Jeremiah 5:04PM (2/12/2008)
Are they going to fit every pedestrian and cyclist as well? They use the same traffic signs and signals as motor vehicles.
I'd rather see "smart" signals that can look down the road, and better estimate when to stop or allow traffic.
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RWD fan 5:57PM (2/12/2008)
Fortunately by the time this gets implemented all the pedestrians will have chips embedded in their brains from birth, so Skynet will have control and the one or two remaining government controlled car manufacturers won't need to worry about installation in the vehicles afterall.
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E30FTMFW 6:22PM (2/12/2008)
Worst idea ever. Please don't fill my car with more electronic crap. Stop adding more weight, and stop making cars more complicated than they need to be.
30 years from now all the new cars coming out now will be a nightmare to work on at home.
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Galley 7:19PM (2/12/2008)
I came up with this idea five years ago. If only I had had $10 million to develop it!
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dean 9:41PM (2/12/2008)
Having cars drive themselves is a wonderful idea (for the city, of course!). A lot less fuel spent, less infrastructure to support, assuming less accidents.
As for getting the system in every vehicle....yeah, not immediately. I say have certain roads or sections of city that are "automated cars only". Then as the system is put on more new cars, the automated only sections spread.
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