Most Maryland residents take it for granted that they can quickly send a text message to a friend, or call them by voice, to communicate all kinds of important information. However, what if your vehicle could do the same exact thing? What if your car could talk to other cars and communicate vital information that could keep you and your family safe from getting into an unexpected accident?
The federal government is currently promoting the idea that all vehicles — including light trucks — should be able to communicate with one another wirelessly. The government also wants vehicles to be able to communicate with traffic lights and other infrastructure along the road. Officials say that the proposed technology would dramatically reduce deaths from traffic accidents and transform the safety of driving.
Vehicle-to-vehicle communication like this is also referred to as “V2V.” It allows cars to tell other cars their speed, direction, location and additional information, and update that information 10 times a second. This information allows cars to detect when other cars are close, when a car might run a red light, and it will help automatic systems in vehicles prevent occupants from getting into a crash.
V2V systems will all need to talk the same computer language to ensure compatibility, so that is where government involvement will come in. Automakers say that the technology has been ready for the road for some time, and they are merely waiting for the government to enact regulations that will make sure all the systems are compatible.
Any new technology that could prevent car accidents should be celebrated. Nevertheless, as long as cars are on the road, there will be the threat of auto collisions and their associated deaths and injuries. Maryland residents injured in such incidents — and family members of those who are killed — may have the ability to file a lawsuit for financial compensation in civil court if the accident was caused by another person’s negligence or unlawful behavior.
Source: NewsMax, “Feds: Cars Must Be Able to Talk to Each Other,” Dec. 13, 2016