How Can Connected Cars Reduce Traffic Problems
We’ve all been stuck in traffic countless times. We’ve all felt our blood pressure rising for being trapped in a sea of cars when we had somewhere important we had to be.
It’s a frustrating experience, but it’s something many car owners have come to accept as an unavoidable reality of big-city life.
Still, if you’re like most drivers out there, you are quietly waiting for a solution.
Could connected cars be that solution to confine the traffic jam to yesterday? The answer is “Yes”, but it won’t happen overnight.
The good news is that significant progress has been made in this area. Thanks to connected car tech, imagining a future where traffic congestion will only be a bad memory is not so far-fetched.
Here are a few reasons why.
Vehicle-to-Vehicle Communication
Smart vehicles nowadays can communicate with each other using wireless technology and other advanced means of communication to avoid each other.
In other words, they can actually work together to ensure better driving conditions for drivers. This not only reduces the risks of a collision but it can also help relieve traffic congestion.
The tech hasn’t gone unnoticed.
General Motors has recently announced that its 2017 Cadillac CTS Sedans will have vehicle-to-vehicle technology built in.
What’s more, the US Department of Transportation (DoT) has proposed a mandate for V2V chips to be included in all passenger cars in the next few years.
So it’s safe to say we’ll be hearing a lot more about this technology in the near future.
Vehicle-to-Infrastructure Communication
The cars of tomorrow can not only talk to each other. They can connect with the surrounding traffic infrastructure to anticipate driving conditions, predict and avoid traffic.
They can communicate to connected sensors on signs on stoplights, bus stops, and more.
We can expect to see sensors planted into the roads, which can send traffic updates and rerouting alerts to drivers.
And automobile manufacturers are jumping at the opportunity.
Audi recently launched the first Vehicle-to-Infrastructure (V2I) technology in the United States.
To make their cars more intuitive, BMW is also working on an in-car system that can be integrated with other IoT systems.
Connected Cars
Connected vehicles are not only smart; they are also getting street-smart.
Let’s say a truck gets a flat tire in the middle of a busy highway. If that vehicle can transmit that information to the appropriate tech technician immediately, the problem can be solved in a time-efficient manner.
Connected vehicles have this capability, which translates into a significantly better traffic flow.
And it’s not just fleet cars.
Connected-car tech helps drivers keep the number of unexpected situations to a minimum through advanced technology. These are just a few examples:
- Predictive maintenance systems allow car owners to be proactive and identify vehicle maintenance issues before they occur.
- Drivers can check their vehicle’s tire pressure, oil level, fuel level, how much range they have on that tank of fuel.
- Cars can provide information about service providers, gas stations, and even fuel prices, so you can avoid running out of gas in the middle of the highway.
- Connected cars can communicate with your home, office, and smart devices. If you have a meeting scheduled on your phone, your car may be able to show you the best route to get to your destination, depending on previous traffic conditions, the hour of the day, and so on.
Over to You
By now, it is evident that connected cars can make driving a safer and more enjoyable experience.
In the future, smart vehicles will act as a hub of information, gathering data from the infrastructure environment, other cars on the road, and your connected devices.
So there is no doubting that connected cars will play a significant role in how the future will shape up to be.