As part of a nationwide commitment to reducing road accidents and fatalities to zero, the USDOT is to implement a National Roadway Safety Strategy with Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) technology identified as key to achieving the goal.
Previously, the safety benefits of V2X have been successfully demonstrated as part of smaller deployments across the United States, showing the promises of the technology whereby the large-scale benefits are a magnitude greater as a whole than in an individual system.
Now, the newly proposed strategy clearly demonstrates commitment to V2X and a long-term plan for widened use of the technology across the country.
Before, like other regions, the U.S. did not have a specific robust plan for the widespread deployment and development of V2X technology.
Now, however, the USDOT’s commitment highlights the necessity of V2X as a lifesaving technology, subsequently enhancing road safety, traffic efficiency, and overall transportation systems.
By being among the first to develop a roadmap for V2X deployment, it not only demonstrates a commitment to innovation and safety, but also positions the United States as a key player in shaping the future of connected and autonomous transportation.
This will now enhance the global competitiveness of the U.S., positioning the country as a leader in the development and deployment of connected vehicle technologies.
This early action is also likely to see the U.S. play a significant role in influencing global standards for V2X communication as it focuses on necessary factors such as policy, architecture, and certifications.
All of these will play an integral role in successful widespread deployment and can be expected to set a foundational approach for the technology’s integration onto roads globally.
Across all regions, progress has been limited due to the ongoing debate of who should lead such a deployment which has stemmed from a complex interplay of regulatory, technological, and economic considerations.
However, this roadmap to accelerate V2X shows a clear stance from the U.S. government that it will be the one leading the widespread deployment by setting out vision, goals, and milestones, providing support for all stakeholders, including the USDOT, public agencies, and the private sector.
Whilst in other regions there are still obstacles to overcome regarding choosing a V2X communication method, the U.S. will move forward with the use of Cellular V2X (C-V2X) following the Federal Communications Commission’s grant of joint waiver requests to deploy the technology earlier this year.
For those in the connected vehicle landscape– device providers, OEMS and road operators across the country– this will allow V2X systems to be put into service and further open up the V2X market as the effectiveness of the technology, its use cases, and overall benefits begin to be demonstrated on a large scale.
As part of the draft plan for accelerated deployment, the U.S. DOT had presented three defined timeframes for deployment, these being:
Short Term (2024-2026): Leading Deployers in Operation.
Medium Term (2027-2029): V2X Deployer Community Growth.
Long Term (2030-2034): Nationwide Interoperable V2X Deployed and Operational.
Within each of these timeframes, corresponding targets have been identified across 4 areas: Infrastructure Deployments, Spectrum and Interoperability, Vehicles, and Benefits and Technical Assistance.
USDOT says it will provide resources to public agencies and tribal governments to support the deployment of V2X technologies, and is to also provide a supplementary technical document, The V2X Deployer Resources, which is to be released in early 2024.
Technical assistance will also be provided through peer-to-peer exchanges (e.g., the Accelerating V2X Cohort) and online resources such as the Smart Community Resource Center.