Imagine yourself driving in an unfamiliar area when suddenly you pass a hidden stop sign and run into another car causing a collision.
Now, rewind to the moment right before you pass the stop sign and imagine your car sensing something and coming to a stop. New developing technology will soon make this possible.
Vehicle-to-vehicle communication, V2V, is a new technology that allows cars to communicate with each other in a certain area. If a car’s wheels begin to skid, it would send out an alert to other cars warning them about the slippery road.
In addition to a driver’s own cautiousness, this innovative technology can use data to automatically take action such as braking, if a driver fails to pay attention to signals.
Major car companies have worked on this for years, and it continues to improve and evolve. The Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is expected to rule next year on moving forward with more extensive research into the technology.
According to NHTSA, V2V could potentially help drivers avoid or minimize 80 percent of crashes involving sober drivers. It can also react to street signals and signs letting cars automatically respond to things such red lights and school zones.
The device shouldn’t pose a problem because they are about the size of an iPod, which most people already carry in their car. According to director of electronics and controls for General Motors, Nady Boules, older cars can be easily modified with V2V devices. This will make it easier for everyone to enjoy the benefits of the new system and make our crowded lanes safer.
According to Boules, V2V can even be incorporated into cell phones. If more research is approved, this technology could alert cars and trucks when pedestrians cross the street.
As game changing as this technology may seem it does pose some problems. When it comes to technology, there should always be limits. But, when it comes to V2V who should decide what the limits are? Would V2V alert police officers if someone was speeding or not wearing a seatbelt? It could eventually screw people over. Will a citizen’s privacy be taken into account?
The media also plays a big part in making this happen. If they report on an accident and mention the car involved did not come equipped with V2V, it would eventually make not having V2V a taboo.
Also, if hackers figure out how to get into your car and make it speed or brake at inconvenient times or learn how to blow up the vehicle it could potentially put lives at risk.
There is no way of knowing what turn of events this technology can take, but as with everything taking no risk is the greatest risk. With something as beneficial as the V2V, it’s worth every shot.
Rebecca Ruiz is a senior journalism major and a contributing writer for the Daily 49er.
