ADAPTATION OF ATC/ATP TECHNOLOGY IN FUTURE AUTOMOBILE DESIGNS.ByJOSHUA ODELEYEPRINCIPAL STAFF DEVELOPMENT OFFICERNIGERIAN INSITUTE OF TRANSPORT TECHNOLOGY (NITT),P.M.B. 1148, ZARIA, NIGERIA.E-MAIL: joshuaodeleyeyahoo.comMobilephone: 234-803-590 5619Abstract.Despite the indispensability of automobiles in the modern society automobile technology is paradoxically regarded as one of the unfortunate things to happen to this generation because of its susceptibility to accidents. And, researches have confirmed that over-speeding among motorists, is one of the notable factors that underscored the persistent of ignoble carnages on various road networks globally, particularly in the developing countries.This paper, thus assessed the functionality and workability of Automatic Trains Control/Protection (ATC/ATP) technology in the railways in future automobile. This is a safety device that aptly combines the complementary advantages and potentials of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) to harness and enhance safety in the rail transport.Consequently, this paper recommended the adaptation of ATC/ATP technologies in future automobile designs, such that in-built ICTs components in automobile will enhance safety on the road by alerting and/or warning vehicles occupants of inherent dangers promptly, as well as checking the reckless attitudinal posture and negative behavioural tendencies; such as over-speeding that usually lead to occurrence of fatal road accidents, among future motorists.Keywords: Speed, Safety, Accident, ICTs, ATC/ATP.IntroductionGlobally automobile enjoys exclusive patronage in carriage of goods and people. Research attributed this to its flexibility in rendering door-to-door services over time and space. Hence, the impact of automobile is been felt in all aspects of human socio-economic, political and cultural activities.Ironically, automobile has been highly susceptible to road accident. Despite the adaptation of the “Three E s” of traffic safety i.e Education, Engineering and Enforcement, the rate of global road traffic accident is alarming. According to a World Bank report (2001) it is lucidly stated that recent conservative estimates suggest that between 750,000 and 880,000 people died as a result of road accidents in 1999. Also about 25 and 35 million people were injured in road accidents worldwide, of which up to 75% were in urban areas.Interestingly, about 85% of these were in developing and transitional economies. Also, the economic cost of these accidents in the developing world has been estimated at US $65 billion, which is approximately equal to the total annual aid and lending of the international institutions to these countries. Road accident currently rank ninth as a cause of deaths worldwide and are expected to rise to sixth by year 2020. Even more significantly, because many of the people killed are relatively young, road accidents already rank second in terms of reductions in life expectancy.Nevertheless, ATC/ATP technology is been regarded as a succor in the modern railway, for it has helped in enhancing safety overtime and space.Recently, agitation for ATP became a political hot potato, with the amazing spectacle of demonstrators on Londons street shouting what do we want ATP! ATP! When do we want it! Now! After Ladbroke accident in 1999. (see Richard Hope, 2002). Furthermore, by 2008 ATP is mandatorily expected on all trains plying lines where train exceed 160 km/hr in Europe.Human Factor in Road Accidents.In an empirical road safety research carried out by European road safety experts in 1998, over-speeding was ranked first among all other contributory factors to road accidents in Europe. In other words, high velocities is being regarded as the greatest problem.Over-speeding a negative attitudinal/behavioural tendency often exhibit by most drivers globally seems to have defied all counter measures already put in place, particularly safety educational approaches such as safety jingle on radio and television, print medias, road side bill-board, training and retraining of drivers, stringent licensing processes etc, in which sense of reasoning of drivers are appeal to through appealing headline like “Speed Kills”.Hence, the need for a more comprehensive engineering approach, i.e integration of ATC/ATP components in future vehicles, such that it will complement optimally and configure collectively and effectively in a unit of automobile the concept of Three Es (i.e Safety Education, Engineering and Enforcement).ATC Configuration.Based on the proven success story of ATC application in the Vancouver Sky Train, its configuration is as follows:The ATC hardware is divided into two parts: the Vehicle On-Board Control (VOBC) located on the vehicle and composed a dual processor computer that continually monitors the position, speed and gene