By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has taken the first step toward requiring vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communications in all new light-duty cars. The agency issued a research report and an advance proposed rule to mandate the installation of wireless equipment warning drivers of potential danger. The NHTSA has identified the year 2020 as its target to begin implementing the rule.
The NHTSA intends to create a new Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS), FMVSS No. 150, establishing minimum performance requirements for V2V devices and messages. Examples for which the technology could provide safety benefits include warning the driver of stopped vehicles and vehicles in the blind spot. The NHTSA estimates that the equipment and software could cost around $350 per vehicle. The NHTSA contends that a safety standard is necessary in order to equip a significant number of new vehicles with the technology.
For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.