The Evolution of Connected Vehicle Technology: From Smart Drivers to Smart Cars to....Self-Driving Cars.

In this article, the author discusses the evolution of vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) technology, which promise to impact the travel scenes in the United States and Europe. The information technology that underlies intelligent transportation systems (ITS), global positioning system (GPS), and in-vehicle technologies now provides the framework for these connected-vehicle (CV) technologies. V2V technologies will allow roadway vehicles to communicate with each other, creating active safety systems that can prevent crashes and reduce traffic injuries and fatalities. The article describes the Connected Vehicle Safety Pilot Model Deployment Program, the world's largest real-world test of dedicated short-range communication (DSRC)-based connected vehicle communication technology. Other topics highlighted in this article include the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)'s anticipated regulatory involvement in connected vehicle technology, the Maricopa County Department of Transportation's SMARTDrive Program, the international deployment of cooperative intelligent transportation systems between Europe and the United States, and connected vehicle technology developments in the European Union.