With so many four-wheelers running red lights or taking left turns in front of oncoming traffic, the government is working on "smart intersections" to help these clueless drivers avoid hitting others.

Earlier this year, the Federal Highway Administration opened a new "Intelligent Intersection" test facility in McLean, Va., aimed at developing systems that can save lives by helping drivers avoid intersection crashes.

One such intelligent vehicle technology being worked on uses sensors that alert a car about to go through a red light with a high-pitched beep and a red light on the car's dashboard.

Much testing remains to be done, and drivers probably won't start seeing the new technology for another five years, say highway officials. The Bush administration wants to spend $1.7 billion over the next six years on intelligent transportation systems, 20 percent more than the past six years.

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