By the year 2020, there's a possibility that all cars will have the ability to "speak" to each other. Researchers conducting a government-funded pilot program at the University of Michigan are currently testing thousands of cars equipped with vehicle-to-vehicle transmitters, which send and receive information every 10 seconds. Sharing information like speed, direction and location, federal regulators and automakers believe the new technology will significantly reduce accidents and usher in a new era of safety.
One day your favorite Toyotas, including the Camry, Corolla, Prius and others, could offer vehicle-to-vehicle communication and experts believe it will be the next great advancement in saving lives. Unlike the sensor- and radar-based collision-avoidance systems and backup cameras of today, which must rely on what their sensors can "see," this technology would enable cars to avoid hazards that sensors can't spot.
Even traffic lights may be integrated in the new "sharing" system, and this is something that's already being examined with test vehicles that display the seconds before a green light turns red, for example. In addition, along with alerting you when a driver ahead of your car stops short or runs through a red light, the new technology may also have the ability to alert you when there are traffic jams or when there's upcoming road work in your lane.
Recently, the Department of Transportation announced that it has plans to require vehicle-to-vehicle technology in all U.S. cars and trucks down the line, and we think this change will be beneficial to everyone who shares the road.
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