Will V2I Help Avoid Road Accidents?
According to the World Health Organization, nearly 1.35 million people die because of traffic collisions every year, and more than half of the number of people dead are pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists. One of the most important risks factors of traffic injuries is the design of road infrastructure, which can have a crucial impact on people’s safety. To save thousands of lives, the need to develop advanced infrastructure to help prevent cars from hitting people is more and more urgent. V2I, known as Vehicle-to-Infrastructure, was firstly announced by Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) in 2017 and is set for a pilot test this year in Columbus, Ohio.
V2I is a technology that makes the communication between vehicles and road infrastructure possible and help drivers “see” pedestrians out of view. In order to set up the system, short-range wireless sensors are mounted on the top of poles around road intersections, which can take advantage of the bird’s eye view and detect any movements towards the intersections. Also, to receive information from the poles, the vehicles need to gear up with the system as well. If pedestrians are around the corners, the sensors can detect them and send signals to the vehicles. Thus, even for the pedestrian in the blind spots or people who are jaywalking, drivers can be aware of them and be alert, which can help reduce the number of intersection collisions and fatalities.
As stated by the U.S. Department of Transportation, the V2I could help reduce 12 percent potential car crashes. By further enhancing vehicle connectivity such as vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V), approximately 80 percent of car accidents could be addressed up. However, upgrading the infrastructure and vehicles might cost a lot and take years to accomplish. Both public sectors and private sectors need to make an effort to eliminate fatalities finally.
References:
https://amp.freep.com/amp/646543002
https://www.its.dot.gov/factsheets/pdf/ConnectedVehicleBenefits.pdf
