US Department of Transportation Unveils Car Communication Road Safety Plan
In a major move to enhance road safety, the US Department of Transportation has unveiled a groundbreaking nationwide road safety plan with the objective of achieving zero roadway fatalities. The initiative centers around the implementation of vehicle-to-everything (V2X) technology, allowing cars to communicate with one another and with various elements of the road infrastructure.
The V2X tech enables vehicles to communicate critical information such as their position, speed, and road conditions, even in low visibility situations like dense fog. With the potential to prevent hundreds of thousands of crashes and lessen the impact of those that do occur, safety advocates are expressing strong support for the technology.
Federal Push Towards Nationwide V2X Adoption
The US Department of Transportation's ambitious plan lays out a timeline extending to 2036, aiming for a full deployment of V2X across the National Highway System, equipping the top 75 metro areas with the tech at 85 percent of their signalized intersections, and having 20 vehicle models that are V2X capable. By 2028, the agency targets to have 20 percent of the National Highway System and 25 percent of signalized intersections in major metro areas installed with V2X tech.
This considerable undertaking will require the coordination of various stakeholders, including the Federal Communications Commission for spectrum allocation rules, automaker suppliers for building V2X-enabled components, freight operators, and app developers.
Security and Funding Concerns Addressed
While there are concerns related to cybersecurity and funding the deployment of this technology, the Federal Highway Administration has recently announced almost $60 million in grants to aid V2X-related projects. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg and National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy have both highlighted the life-saving potential of V2X technology, which could have prevented numerous fatal crashes over the past decades.
Multiple car manufacturers, such as Audi, Toyota, and Volkswagen, have been actively developing V2X communication tech for years, recognizing the role it plays in autonomous driving development. Despite previous regulatory challenges, industry leaders view this plan as a significant step forward in the adoption of V2X technology.
With the potential to save thousands of lives annually, the United States is setting a precedent in transportation safety and innovation through the adoption of V2X technology, marking a new era of "connected" driving.
