US to propose standards for vehicle-to-vehicle communication

The US government is reportedly preparing to move forward with preliminary regulations for vehicle-to-vehicle communication. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is expected to detail its proposals at a news conference today with its acting administrator, David Friedman, along with Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx, according to a Bloomberg report.

The NHTSA has been considering new regulations that would require automakers to eventually integrate such communication systems, however the agency initially missed its self-imposed deadline for announcing a decision.

Vehicle-to-vehicle communication is viewed as a technological jump that could help prevent many automobile accidents and reduce traffic jams. Automakers have argued against mandatory implementation, citing increased costs for building new vehicles.

The NHTSA is already testing the technology in a pilot program with the University of Michigan’s Transportation Research Institute and $25 million in funding, mostly provided by the DOT.

The trials utilize a wireless system similar to Wi-Fi, enabling vehicles to communicate location, speed and heading data to other cars and road infrastructure. Transmitters along the road can alert cars to upcoming congestion, while transmitters on the cars can alert following vehicles when stopping short or drifting out of a lane. The technology complements existing systems, such as automatic braking and adaptive cruise control.

The NHTSA suggests widespread use of the technology could help prevent or mitigate up to 80 percent of collisions caused by non-impaired drivers.