UAE | Traffic and Transport
Car crash alert promises safety on the roads
A device that alerts drivers to an impending crash has been unveiled as part of the European Car-2-Car consortium's efforts to put the brakes on vehicle collisions.
- Gulf News Report
- Published: 00:04 July 7, 2007
Dubai: A device that alerts drivers to an impending crash has been unveiled as part of the European Car-2-Car consortium's efforts to put the brakes on vehicle collisions.
The system, which includes a vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) technology, allows cars to communicate with each other at distances of up to 300 metres and even around corners, news agencies reported. The system combines three technologies - a Global Positioning Satellite antenna, a wireless data system and a computer which interprets the information it receives, BBC reported.
According to Professor Horst Wieker in the department of telecommunications at the University of Applied Sciences, Saarbrucken, the system aims to create "foresighted driving".
"You are aware of unseen danger around the corner and even many kilometres before you even encounter a hazardous situation," he was quoted as saying by BBC Online.
One car manufacturer said the system was already fully operational. However, it would take some time before the technology could be fitted into cars coming off production lines.
"We are developing industry standards, ensuring that BMW, VW and Audi and GM can talk to each other," said Bruno Praunsmandel, a group manager at GM Europe, one of the partners in the European consortium. "This has to be a system that can work across all models and makes," he was quoted as saying. However, the system is not designed to replace driver caution or awareness, experts cautioned.
The V2V technology also enables cars travelling in opposite directions to share information about where they have been and thus inform each other about where they are going. "The data moves between cars in milliseconds," Prof Wieker said.
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