Car safety system gets real-world test

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ANN ARBOR, Mich., May 23 (UPI) -- A $22 million safety research project will equip motor vehicles with connected technologies, devices that may someday prevent crashes, U.S. researchers say.

The University of Michigan's Transportation Research Institute, in the largest street-level pilot project in the western hemisphere, has partnered with the U.S. Department of Transportation to test connected vehicle technology in real world use by actual drivers, the university reported.

The technology involves vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure wireless communications that privately and securely transmit and receive vehicle data such as position and speed and can alert drivers to a potential crash situation such as a nearby vehicle unexpectedly breaking, a sudden lane change or merging traffic.

Nearly 3,000 cars, trucks and buses will be equipped with the technology while similar devices will be located at intersections, curve locations, and freeway sites throughout the test area, researchers said.

"We are equipping vehicles that spend time driving in the 48105 ZIP code -- northeast Ann Arbor and the surrounding area," Jim Sayer, an UMTRI researcher, said.

"We are working closely with the university community, but also with the Ann Arbor Public Schools, to identify individuals who want to know more about this technology and might consider having it installed on their personal vehicle."