Indy Standard

U.S. Senators Todd Young and Gary Peters have spearheaded a bipartisan effort urging the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to prioritize connected vehicle technologies for improved road safety. The senators, along with other colleagues, expressed their support for the DOT's draft plan that focuses on accelerating the deployment of Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything (C-V2X) technology.

The C-V2X system is designed to facilitate data sharing between vehicles, roadside infrastructure, and road users to enhance safety applications such as collision prevention and traffic signal priority. In their letter, the senators emphasized the importance of making this technology a national priority. "Strong federal leadership from DOT in the rapid development and implementation of a C-V2X deployment plan will help achieve our mutual goals of eliminating traffic deaths and making America’s roads safer and more efficient for all users," they wrote.

According to estimates by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 42,795 people died in motor vehicle crashes in 2022, mirroring figures from 2021 which marked a peak since 2005. NHTSA data suggests that communication technologies like C-V2X could potentially reduce or lessen up to 80 percent of non-impaired multi-vehicle light vehicle crashes.

The initiative has garnered support from various stakeholders including INDOT Commissioner Michael Smith who stated that embracing C-V2X would aid in addressing growing safety concerns. MDOT Director Bradley C. Wieferich also highlighted that accelerating C-V2X deployment could significantly improve road safety.

John F. Kwant from 5GAA praised Senators Peters and Young for their longstanding advocacy for C-V2X technology, while Laura Chace from ITS America stressed its potential benefits for global competitiveness and modern transportation networks.

Lorraine Martin from the National Safety Council emphasized that advancing C-V2X is crucial for saving lives on American roads. Martina Haggerty from PeopleForBikes noted its importance in reducing fatalities among vulnerable road users.

Additional signatories of the letter include Senators Debbie Stabenow, Cynthia Lummis, and Alex Padilla.

The full text of the letter was addressed to Secretary Pete Buttigieg at the U.S. Department of Transportation.