iStock/Thinkstock(WASHINGTON) — On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Transportation proposed new rules that would enable cars to “talk” to one another to avoid crashes on the road. The vehicle-to-vehicle (or V2V) communications technology would be required on all new passenger cars.
Two or more cars in the same area would be able to share information about location, direction and speed up to 10 times per second. The data would be used to identify risks and inform drivers how to avoid possible crashes. As more cars include automated driving and braking functions, they would be able to take the information into account as well.
“We are carrying the ball as far as we can to realize the potential of transportation technology to save lives,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. “This long promised V2V rule is the next step in that progression. Once deployed, V2V will provide 360-degree situational awareness on the road and will help us enhance vehicle safety.”
The DOT also announced plans to require vehicles to communicate with infrastructure like traffic lights and stop signs in order to reduce congestion, improve safety and increase mobility.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that up to 80 percent of crashes not involving impaired drivers could be avoided or made less severe once data is applied from vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communications.
The DOT statement said that the proposed technology does not compromise drivers’ privacy, as any information exchanged would not be linkable to specific individuals.
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