The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has issued a proposed rule mandating vehicle-to-vehicle communication devices on all new cars and light trucks by 2023 in an effort to spur development of connected vehicle technology.
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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued a notice of proposed rulemaking that would mandate installation of vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) devices on all new cars and light trucks by 2023.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is proposing a rule aimed at accelerating the development of connected vehicle technology.
The notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM), which went relatively unreported when released in January, would mandate installation of vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) devices on all new cars and light trucks by 2023, with a phase-in period beginning in 2021.
In addition to requiring the necessary V2V hardware, the rule also seeks to standardize the messaging format so that vehicles “speak the same language.”
Under the NPRM, each vehicle would be equipped with a dedicated short-range communication (DSRC) to send and receive basic safety messages, such as speed data and brake status.
Complete connectivity for vehicles traveling throughout the U.S. could have huge implications, both for passenger safety and for trucking operations. With little or no vehicle traffic to slow them down, operators could greatly increase transit speed and efficiency.
The mandate would “create an information environment in which vehicle and device manufacturers can create and implement applications to improve safety, mobility, and the environment,” according to the NPRM. “Without a mandate to require and standardize V2V communications, the agency believes that manufacturers will not be able to move forward in an efficient way and that a critical mass of equipped vehicles would take many years to develop, if ever.”
The NHTSA said the full deployment of V2V-based safety technology “could potentially prevent 424,901 – 594,569 crashes, and save 955 – 1,321 lives when fully deployed throughout the light-duty vehicle fleet,” and “reduce the costs resulting from motor vehicle crashes by $53 to $71 billion” on an annual basis.
“We are carrying the ball as far as we can to realize the potential of transportation technology to save lives. This long promised V2V rule is the next step in that progression,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said of the NPRM. “Once deployed, V2V will provide 360-degree situational awareness on the road and will help us enhance vehicle safety.”
NHTSA is accepting public comments on the proposed rulemaking through April 12, 2017.
Meanwhile, USDOT’s Federal Highway Administration plans to separately issue guidance for vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communications, which would allow vehicles to “talk” to roadway infrastructure such as traffic lights, stop signs and work zones in an effort to further increase safety and efficiency.
