This service would be like your highway fuel station 24/7 stores (in Portugal this service is quite common, not sure about other countries). Road signs would warn some kilometers before and people would be able to get a list of the available items texted to their cell phones. Then tey would make the order using a WAP service and would pay with credit card. When they got the the service area they would open their right (or left, according to the country's traffic) side window and a tray transported by a system similar to those with false hares on dog race courses. The tray would get inline with the car and maintain speed for a course of a maximum of 1,5 kms. The passenger would pick the items. This system would not work at speeds higher than the highway's speed limit or under the minimum speed. An aerodynamic wind barrier would be at the front of the tray to avoid the goods flying and at the end there would be another protection to avoid turbulence.
-- PauloSargaco, Jul 04 2004

This gave me an idea... http://www.halfbake...ll_20Booth_20Snacks
Toll Booth Snacks [gabe, Oct 17 2004]

Wow. That's amazing. Highway fuel stations in Portugal operates like this? Over here, we have to stop when we want to refuel. :)

Actually, the tray transport system is unnecessary. Have you seen how trains pick up mail without stopping? If you put the drinks into plastic bottles instead of paper cups, they wouldn't spill.

But I'm not sure messing around with your WAP phone, AND driving at the same time is such a good idea.
-- greendot, Jul 04 2004


I hear you [greendot], that's way it only works on the passenger side...although I can imagine there are people crazy enough to try and get the beverages, while driving, from the passenger side.
-- PauloSargaco, Jul 04 2004


A laudable effort. I would rather stop and stretch my legs though.
-- gnomethang, Jul 04 2004


Trying not to think too hard about the random cyclist in a race who reaches for the cup of water and, not noticing the golden arches on it, pours a 100­°C cup of water over his head to cool off. "I say there, old boy, was that your tea you saluted to the lad?" "It was tea, barely."
-- dpsyplc, Jul 04 2004


Presumably you could also drop off your colostomy bag as part of the deal?
-- PainOCommonSense, Jul 05 2004


// So what do you do when inevitably they get the order wrong? Go back? //

Nope, you would sue them for every cent they got...if you lived in the US. In Portugal you would just drink the damn gatorade instead of the hot coffee and be glad they bothered to put something on the tray.

// Presumably you could also drop off your colostomy bag as part of the deal? //

For that you would have to pay extra.
-- PauloSargaco, Jul 05 2004


//Portugal//
Let me be the first to offer my condolences, [PauloSargaco].
-- spacemoggy, Jul 05 2004


The bandit in me wants to attempt a hold-up on this new fast-moving store. A more difficult place to rob, perhaps... but the stories afterwards enter into legend....
-- not_only_but_also, Jul 05 2004


[spacemoggy], well, nobody died, but thanks anyway. Next time we'll do better.
-- PauloSargaco, Jul 06 2004



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