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U.S.
Department of Transportation
Why
Is Connected Vehicle Research Needed?
§USDOT
connected vehicle research aims to tackle some of the biggest challenges
in the surface transportation industry in the areas of safety, mobility,
and environment
□Safety | In 2009,
there were 5.5 million crashes, resulting in 33,808 fatalities
and 2.2 million injuries. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of
death for people ages 3 through 34.
□Mobility | U.S.
highway users waste 4.8 billion hours a year stuck in traffic –
nearly one full work week (or vacation week) for every traveler. The
overall cost (based on wasted fuel and lost productivity) reached $115
billion in 2009 – more than $808 for every U.S. traveler. Delays in truck
operations alone resulted in $33 billion in wasted fuel and lost productivity.
□Environment | The total
amount of wasted fuel topped 1.9 billion gallons in 2010
according to the Texas Transportation Institute’s Urban Mobility Report.