If Cars Could Talk, What Would They Say?

Here in the media, we see millions of stories, tweet, posts, reports and allegations every day -- that's partly why we're such annoying know-it-alls.

But a story from The Associated Press this week gave us pause.

Here's the gist of it:

The Obama administration wants automakers to start equipping cars with technology that would allow them to "talk" to each other -- they'd see or hear or somehow sense each other coming, then warn their respective drivers.

It's a good idea from a safety standpoint, so we guess we're all for it.

On the other hand, this could really complicate the drive home.

Would enormous pickups just shout down timid-looking hybrid compacts and set off mechanical road-rage incidents? Would those jumpy little sports cars overreact and shriek false alarms to their drivers every two miles? Would vans even pay any attention? (And would they tell the truth, anyway?)

Then there'd be the retrofitting hassles. Look at Rik's truck, for example. It's a '96, for crying out loud. It might be too old -- or unwilling -- to even learn all that new technology. Besides, the whole system would work off radio signals, and somebody stole Rik's radio years ago.

The National Traffic Safety Administration is already drafting the new rules, estimating they could prevent 592,000 wrecks a year and save 1,083 lives. Like we said, it's probably a good idea. We guess.

Smart cars, smart phones -- it's all for the better, we suppose. But does anyone really want to ride around in Rik's truck with Siri driving?