Beginning in 2011, the ITS JPO will test Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) and Vehicle-to-Infrastructure (V2I) technology with real drivers in normal highway and roadway situations.  The program, called the Connected Vehicle Safety Pilot, includes driver clinics where motorists are monitored in a controlled environment and a model deployment of more than 2,000 vehicles with wireless devices.

The Connected Vehicle Safety Pilot Program is in fact two innovative new pilot programs that will determine how real motorists handle driving while using the latest Vehicle-to-Vehicle technology installed in their cars.

Because safety is the Department of Transportation’s first priority, it is important that we use V2V technology in real world scenarios to ensure that the devices are safe and do not distract motorists or cause unnecessary crashes.

The two components of the Connected Vehicle Safety Pilot include:

Smart Pilot Driver Clinics: During these tests, which will take place in various parts of the U.S., real drivers will test in car V2V technology in a controlled environment. The goal will be to see how motorists handle in-car collision warnings; do not pass signals and warnings that a car ahead has stopped suddenly.    

Smart Pilot Model Deployment:  This trial will include thousands of vehicles fitted with V2V devices that will be in communication with each other while operating on everyday streets in a highly concentrated area. Motorists will be able to tell when another car with a V2V device has moved into their immediate driving area. The deployment will be the first test of V2V technology in a real world environment.

Following are answers to common questions about the Connected Vehicle Safety Pilot Program.

Why is this pilot program important?

Safety Pilot is important to both demonstrate real world Vehicle-to-Vehicle safety capability and provide robust technical data to support the benefits assessment leading up to a regulatory decision point by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in 2013 for V2V safety applications.  Safety Pilot will be a model deployment of the V2V environment that uses Dedicated Short Range Communications ( DSRC) for communication between vehicles.  Also included will be a limited amount of infrastructure for testing vehicle to infrastructure (V2I) capability which will also use DSRC for communications.  This model deployment will also look to validate the U.S. DOT’s current vision that connected vehicle deployments for safety will begin with V2V capability along with some V2I safety applications.

What kinds of devices will be used in the pilot program?

The devices include pre installed and after market technology that will help drivers avoid crashes with other vehicles, see in blind spots, anticipate upcoming traffic congestion, make safer lane changes, foresee upcoming traffic signals and keep safe distances from other cars.

What kind of human factors will you be trying to obtain from the pilot programs?

During the driver clinics, we will collect qualitative data on the user acceptance of driver assistance technologies.  This will be the first opportunity for drivers across the U.S. to experience these safety technologies. Driver clinics will involve testing in controlled test track environment.  The model deployment will provide quantitative data as users experience as well as driver performance on safety systems in a real world environment. The model deployment program will try to determine if drivers have the appropriate response to the crash warning systems, if they find them useful and do the systems help them drive safer. 

How will trucks and buses be involved in Safety Pilot?

We are looking to host driver clinics for both the truck and transit communities. However, this area still needs to be further defined.  For the model deployment, we expect to see a mix of cars, trucks, and transit vehicles operating collectively.

Will DOT be working with any of the major car companies during this Pilot program?

The U.S. DOT has a long history of working with two car company consortiums for vehicle safety.  These include the Crash Avoidance Metrics Partnership or CAMP, which focuses on the development of safety technology and applications.  We also work with the Vehicle Infrastructure Integration (VII) Consortium, which is currently focusing on policy related issues for smart communications between vehicles.  Between the two, we are working with nine unique original equipment manufacturers that will provide integrated safety systems for as many as 50 vehicles during the pilot program.

Research Contacts

To learn more about this research, contact:

Mike Schagrin
Program Manager, Safety
ITS Joint Program Office
(202) 366-2180
mike.schagrin@dot.gov