The automotive industry is evolving faster than ever, and connected vehicles are now at the forefront. Vehicle features like seatbelts and airbags were once cutting edge innovations for automotive safety. But now, cars can produce and output real-time data to improve roadway safety and enhance the driver experience. These cars, known as connected vehicles, have brought the future of automotive safety technology to drivers on the road today — and they're going to keep getting better.

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Connected vehicles are the future of automotive technology

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Connected vehicles tap into wireless networks to communicate with nearby devices, sharing important safety and mobility information in a continuous loop. 

These  vehicles utilize wireless communication to interact with traffic signals, work zones assets, toll booths, school buses, and more. As Digi says, "the vehicle information communicated is anonymous, so vehicles cannot be tracked and the system is secure against tampering." All of this is powered by vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication.

V2X enables a vehicle to communicate with the world around it. This technology enables vehicles to send and receive data with things on the road as they encounter them. Cars connected through V2X become part of an powerful network that includes other vehicles (V2V), infrastructure (V2I), pedestrians (V2P), and other network connections (V2N).

V2X has transformed the automotive industry

Today, most vehicles come with some form of connectivity, providing real-time information that unlocks new capabilities. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) predicts that this technology has the potential to drastically transform roadway safety by reducing crashes in the US by 615,000 a year. 

V2X offers the following invaluable benefits to all roadway users:

• Safer roads: NHTSA predicts that V2X can address around 80 percent of crashes involving non-impaired drivers, as drivers will be alerted to imminent crash situations. Connected vehicles alert drivers to upcoming school zones or traffic light changes by communicating with roadside infrastructure.
• Better roadway mobility: The average U.S. motorist spent 51 hours sitting in traffic in 2022. V2X communication lets drivers make smart choices to reduce travel delays. For example, it can help travelers have a realistic idea of when transit vehicles will arrive, making this option more appealing to commuters.
• Empower drivers to make greener decisions: V2X gives drivers information that empowers them to make eco-friendly transportation choices. Data about traffic conditions can help motorists eliminate unnecessary stops, so their vehicles can reach optimal fuel-efficiency. 

The U.S. Department of Transportation unveiled its revised plan for V2X deployment and has generated excitement in the automotive V2X technology community. 

The most exciting development is the introduction of "networked V2X," which leverages conventional mobile networks to allow vehicles to send and receive messages. The acceptance of networked V2X by the USDOT represents a revolutionary shift in vehicle safety connectivity, recognizing the role of cellular networks in keeping drivers safe. One of the most exciting V2X applications that better protect drivers on the road are digital alert systems.  

How do connected vehicles better protect roadway users? 

Digital alert systems are a crucial component of connected vehicle safety. They refer to electronic notifications sent directly to a driver. HAAS Alert harnesses this V2X application to enable emergency and road maintenance vehicles to broadcast life-saving digital alerts that protect all roadway users. Safety Cloud® digital alerts inform drivers that there is a nearby or upcoming roadway hazard and they need to slow down and move over.

Safety Cloud alerts are sent up to 30 seconds before drivers encounter a roadway hazard. This advanced notice gives drivers more time to take appropriate action. HAAS Alert offers an alerting service called Responder-to-Vehicle (R2V™) that allows drivers to receive digital alerts directly in their cars. 

R2V alerts are electronic notifications sent from emergency or roadside personnel vehicles straight to civilian motorists. These alerts protect public safety, utility, maintenance, towing, and municipal government crews. Drivers of compatible vehicles receive these alerts directly on screen within their vehicle’s infotainment center. 

When an emergency or road work vehicle/asset is nearby or approaching, these drivers will hear an audible alert and see a hazard message pop up on their screen. Vehicles can receive these alerts up to half a mile before they reach the hazard, giving drivers more than enough time to slow down and move over. 

Digital alerts empower drivers to make better decisions faster

Advanced warning systems like Safety Cloud are proven effective automotive safety tools. A study conducted by the University of Minnesota found that when drivers are alerted to the presence of emergency vehicles, the likelihood of collisions decreases by 90 percent.

Similarly, a 2021 study by Purdue University assessed the impact of digital alerting-equipped queue warning trucks on hard-braking events. Researchers studied 19 Safety Cloud-equipped queue trucks over three months, totaling 370 hours of observation, and concluded that these trucks reduced hard-braking events by 80 percent.

Real responders have witnessed these results firsthand. The Columbus Fire Department installed Safety Cloud in the spring of 2023 and studied its impact on crew safety. 

In the year following implementation, the department experienced a 15 percent reduction in struck-by collisions. They noted that units across the city saw about a 7-second reduction rate in response time in that same time period. Nearly every Battalion Chief vehicle reduced its own response time as well — one reduced its response time by 73 seconds. Columbus Fire was able to see these impressive results because drivers get Safety Cloud alerts directly in their cars. In-vehicle advanced warning systems ensure the motoring public and emergency responders alike get home safely every day. 

What does the future of connected vehicles look like?

Connected vehicles are equipped with impressive features, and advancements are expected to continue. They are set to offer exciting applications that benefit both drivers and their communities. 

Telematics and infrastructure innovations are consistently emerging. Telematics technology connects vehicles to the cloud, allowing them to gather and share relevant data about driver behavior and vehicle functionality. 

As telematics solutions improve, so too will the driver experience.  Similarly, smart infrastructure solutions are enhancing the ability of connected vehicles to detect pedestrians, traffic lights, and emergency vehicles on the road.

These advancements are leading to even more exciting development in the future. . More aMore cities are leveraging technology and data collection to enhance the quality of life in their communities.  Integrating connected vehicles with smart infrastructure will play a crucial role for optimizing traffic flow, reducing pollution, and improving urban mobility.

How connected vehicle advancements will benefit the automotive industry

These technological advancements offer massive benefits to the automotive industry. Connected vehicles and their associated smart infrastructure gather behavioral data that unlocks numerous opportunities. Here are some expected benefits: 

• Data-driven product development — When an automaker analyzes data from a connected vehicle, they can uncover a deeper understanding of driver behavior, preferences, and usage patterns. In turn, they can leverage this information to ideate on and develop new products and features to better improve the driver experience.
• Stronger safety and security — When automakers dig into data from connected cars, they can find trends in driving habits and behavior that will inform technology that can prevent accidents and better product roadway users. These trends and findings can be rolled up into national road safety initiatives.
• Improved service for drivers — Dealerships can tap into connected vehicles' real-time data to get insight on their current maintenance needs. This data can be passed to dealerships to proactively schedule service appointments and provide personalized recommendations for maintenance and repairs. This helps current and potential issues from snowballing so the vehicle continues to perform in peak condition. 

Smarter cars lead to smarter drivers

The roads can be  dangerous, but connected vehicles can help mitigate risks. With drivers more distracted than ever, first responders and road work crews remain at a constant risk.

But connected vehicles offer a myriad of solutions to help people drive safer and smarter — digital alerting is chief among those opportunities. When a driver is alerted to a nearby or upcoming roadway hazard up to 30 seconds before encountering it, they have more than enough time to take appropriate action and save lives.

Take a look at our blog, “How Digital Alerting Systems Boost Connected Vehicle Safety” to learn more about the live-saving benefits of advanced collision prevention systems like digital alerting.

Learn why this technology is the quickest and more efficient way to protect your fleet.

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