Lowering Fatal Car Accidents in the US

Efforts are constantly being made to decrease the amount of fatal car accidents on roads throughout the United States. Early data conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that 6,800 people were killed in car crashes in the first quarter of 2014, which, although lower than some previous years, is an unfortunately high number.

To demonstrate its commitment to lowering that statistic, the NHTSA has recently released a report detailing technology that may help drivers avoid collisions with other motorists on the road. Although it may be impossible to eliminate accidents altogether, vehicle-to-vehicle transmitters could help make roads and highways safer.

V2V Communications Technology Used as a Safety Measure 

The NHTSA report, released on August 18, 2014, discussed a new type of technology, known as vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communications technology, which could be used as an added safety measure to help motorists on the road avoid collisions with other vehicles. The report touches on the potential use of two specific applications of the communications technology: Left Turn Assist (LTA) and Intersection Movement Assist (IMA).

LTA can be used to warn drivers against turning left in front of a car coming the opposite way, while IMA will alert drivers if it isn’t safe to enter an intersection because of the likelihood of crashing with another car. These two applications may prove to be effective, and additional applications of vehicle-to-vehicle transmitters could further assist drivers in avoiding these dangers.

• forward collision.
• do not pass.
• blind spot.
• and, stop light/stop sign warnings.

Is privacy a concern when using vehicle-to-vehicle transmitters?

With privacy an ever-increasing concern of the American public, this release may leave some with questions about where the transmitted data may be going.  In anticipation of this, the NHTSA report also specifically provided, “V2V technology does not involve collecting or exchanging personal information or tracking drivers or their vehicles,” highlighting the use of this technology as solely an instrument of safety.

How effective will vehicle-to-vehicle transmitters be? 

Of course, the main question on everyone’s mind regarding this technology is simple: how effective will it really be, and is it worth the cost? It is worth noting that, per estimates in the report, the initial cost of implementation in 2020 would amount to $341 to $350 for each vehicle, with the estimated total costs ranging from $300 million to $2.1 billion. In fact, it is projected that the total costs could increase to up to $6.4 billion between 2022 and 2024, before gradually decreasing afterward.

In spite of the price tag, the report also claims, most importantly, that the technology could ultimately prevent up to 592,000 crashes each year, and save approximately 1,083 lives annually.

Focusing on Road Safety Today and in the Future 

For now, as we wait in anticipation of vehicle-to-vehicle transmitters, it is up to us as drivers to operate our vehicles with the utmost care when traveling along the road. Even simple tasks such as putting down cell phones and not eating while driving can help make the roads a safer place. But even the introduction of new technology is not meant to take the place of diligence as a driver.

In the event that you are injured in a wreck, you still may be able to recover payment for your injuries. The legal professionals at Rob Levine & Associates are here today to discuss the specifics of your case, and to help you understand your options. Please give us a call today at 800-529-1222 to review the legal options available to you.