Soon, we’ll probably see cars talking, not just in animated films, but on actual roads. In July 2013, I talked about the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute conducting a pilot project called Vehicle to Vehicle Communication (V2V). I also said that we would have to wait until the end of 2013 to know whether the government would require all drivers to adopt the technology. Well, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced that they will begin taking steps to enable V2V technology to light vehicles.
Related: Cars That Can Talk To Help Prevent Accidents
V2V technology
You’ve maybe heard the term before, but what is it? V2V technology is a sophisticated wireless communication network that allows nearby cars to communicate with one another. These cars aren’t having a conversation like we do, but what they do exchange are estimated speed, location and position. From this, the cars can detect upcoming hazards and threats. Some people may not like V2V technology, but the editor of The Quotable Hitchens: From Alcohol to Zionism, Windsor Mann, weighed in on this matter. He said there’s a need to have V2V technology installed in cars. It helps you avoid accidents by detecting danger that you won’t see until it was too late. It could save lives.
Quite a long way to go
The Intelligent Transportation Society of America estimated that the V2V technology would raise a new car’s price by $100 to $200. We’re starting to see it now. If you’re a fan of new technology, you may have to wait until some of the issues are worked out before you can buy a “talking car.” With that said, there are people who are concerned about their security. Manufacturers are making sure that any information the car gathers would remain private and anonymous. Consumer acceptance, affordability, security and privacy are manufacturers’ number one priority.
Related: Can Technology Allow For Safe Use Of Phones While Driving?
As a Kentucky Car Accident Attorney, I appreciate manufacturers taking the initiative to promote and improve road safety. When cars can communicate with one another, it allows them to detect hazards sooner than the driver could see them. It would help prevent many accidents from ever occurring. This could be a step in the right direction to decrease car accidents.