USDOT seeks public comment on smart-vehicle technologies

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The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) announced Tuesday that it is seeking public comment on the use and integration of Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) communications technologies in transportation.

V2X technologies may improve efficiency and motor vehicle safety and support cooperative vehicle automation concepts. These technologies include vehicle-to-infrastructure, vehicle-to-pedestrian and vehicle-to-vehicle communications.

The technology already has been deployed in thousands of vehicles and is using the seven channels in the 5.9 GHz band. The band is used exclusively for transportation safety communications.

Technologies supporting V2X, future transportation safety technologies, Dedicated Short-Range Communications, and “5G” communications have been under development.

“Along with potential benefits, however, automation brings new challenges that need to be addressed,” Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao said in the Preparing for the Future of Transportation: Automated Vehicles 3.0 report. “The public has legitimate concerns about the safety, security, and privacy of automated technology. So, I have challenged Silicon Valley and other innovators to step up and help address these concerns and help inform the public about the benefits of automation.”

Comments are sought on how current and future communications technologies affect both V2X deployment as well as V2X challenges and alternative and emerging communications technologies supporting V2X.

Comments close after 30 days of the publication of the notice.