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U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) releases National Deployment Plan for Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) Tech
On August 16, 2024, as part of its commitment to reducing fatalities and serious injuries on U.S. roadways, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) announced its plan to implement Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) technology – Saving Lives with Connectivity: A Plan to Accelerate V2X Deployment.
The Plan, initially released in draft form for public consultation in October 2023 – is focused on road safety, mobility, and efficiency through technology that enables vehicles and wireless devices to communicate with each other and with roadside infrastructure. The goal is to address the problem of road deaths, which remain high in the United States. An estimated 40,990 people died in road accidents last year.
The plan acts as a “roadmap” to implementing V2X technology, it’s also a unifier, connecting different sectors and industries. It involves collaboration between the public and private sectors with state DOTs and cities and even academia.
Implementation of the plan will begin once the Federal Communications Commission adopts final rules for the 5.9 GHz band. The U.S. Department of Transportation plans to complete it by 2036, with the process itself consisting of three phases. The initial stage will allow two automakers to work with the feds to deploy V2X (using the dedicated 5.895 – 5.925 GHz spectrum) on 20 percent of U.S. highways and 25 percent of major city intersections by 2028. The second stage doubles the technology’s deployment—and will be completed by 2031. The third, last stage will see full U.S. highway V2X integration, with select automakers initially set to use the technology in their new vehicles by 2036.
Grants and funding will enable nationwide deployment of V2X technology. To that end, in June 2024, the Federal Highway Administration awarded a $60 million funding package to support V2X initiatives in Arizona, Texas, and Utah.
What is V2X technology?
V2X technology is essentially a suite of technologies that allow vehicles to send and receive information in real time.The goal of V2X technology is for vehicles to communicate with other vehicles, drivers, pedestrians and their surroundings. It involves the combination of the following technologies:
- Vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V): crash avoidance and lane-changing technologies. Advanced V2V could detect a car slamming its brakes, informing vehicles behind it to avoid a pile-up.
- Vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I): Smart traffic lights and parking meters could relay information, or autonomous vehicles could identify road markings.
- Vehicle-to-pedestrian (V2P): Potential examples include detecting bicyclists, strollers or people with visual impairment.
More information on the national V2X implementation plan can be found in the document.
