As part of its ongoing effort to eliminate fatalities and serious injuries on American roads, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has announced the “Saving Lives with Connectivity: A Plan to Accelerate V2X Deployment.” This newly introduced plan is designed to expedite the nationwide rollout of vehicle-to-everything (V2X) technologies, aligning with USDOT’s overarching mission to achieve zero roadway fatalities.
Originally released in draft form for public feedback last October, the plan emphasizes enhancing road safety, mobility, and efficiency by leveraging technology that allows vehicles, wireless devices, and roadside infrastructure to communicate. This communication fosters a safer, more secure, and efficient transportation network while safeguarding privacy and consumer rights. These efforts are integral to the Safe System Approach, a key component of USDOT’s National Roadway Safety Strategy, launched in January 2022 to tackle the crisis of roadway deaths.
“The Department has reached a key milestone today in laying out a national plan for the transportation industry that has the power to save lives and transform the way we travel,” stated U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg. “The Department recognizes the potential safety benefits of V2X, and this plan will move us closer to nationwide adoption of this technology.”
Crafted through extensive collaboration between public and private sectors, the plan equips stakeholders with essential insights to support the safe, efficient, and sustainable deployment of interoperable V2X technologies across the country. It aims to accelerate investment, research, and deployment, ensuring “market certainty” in the V2X sector, according to Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology and Chief Scientist Dr. Robert C. Hampshire.
“The V2X national plan was made possible through collaborative effort between government, industry and stakeholders,” added Federal Highway Administrator Shailen Bhatt. “The plan represents a call to action in providing a framework for all of us to continue to work together toward the same goal of accelerating V2X deployment to save lives on our nation’s roadways.”
In tandem with the National Plan, the Federal Highway Administration recently awarded nearly $60 million in grants to three organizations to facilitate V2X technology deployment. These grants aim to unlock the full lifesaving potential of V2X communications, ensuring secure and interference-free connectivity across a diverse range of devices and platforms.
For more details on the V2X national plan and related grants, visit Connected/Automated Vehicles and Emerging Technologies.
Source: Highways.dot.gov
