New tech push: Spectrum delicencing next month for V2V & V2I rollout to prevent road crashes

NEW DELHI: Aiming to prevent road crashes — caused by vehicles coming from wrong direction, at blind curves, collisions at under-construction sites or falling into pits — through technology, the telecom department will de-licence a spectrum band next month for roll out of ‘Vehicle to Vehicle (V2V)’ and ‘Vehicle to Infra (V2I)’ communication systems.

In Jan, a software engineer had died after his car fell into an unmarked, water-filled pit in Noida, as there was no barricading or visible warning, one of the several cases of vehicles crashing into with under-construction structures.

TOI has learnt that at a meeting held on April 20, the Supreme Committee on Road Safety directed the telecom department for de-licencing the 5.875–5.925 GHz band. The spectrum will be open for use by all stakeholders as pre-prescribed conditions. Road transport ministry officials informed the SC panel that the norms for V2V will be notified by Dec and vehicle manufacturers have started the work of using this frequency in their systems, according to the minutes of the meeting.

Advanced Driver Assistance Systems in vehicles may also use this in future.

While in the V2V communication system, the device will automatically detect approaching vehicles for preventive action by drivers, in the V2I system, sensors installed with infrastructure, such as signal and power poles, edges of bridges and barricaded areas, will alert vehicles.

“This will go a long way in reducing road fatalities and crashes. Govt has said that first the V2V communication framework will be rolled out, and subsequently, the V2I communication system will be implemented. V2I can be rolled out in a phased manner and road owning agencies would be responsible for installing the sensors on identified infrastructure,” Akhilesh Srivasatava, president of ITS India Forum, said.

The SC panel has asked ITS India Forum and vehicle manufacturers association Siam to discuss and coordinate with all stakeholders to bring out safety features using this frequency band in six months.

Applicability of V2V Communication:

Real-time alerts such as sudden braking, blind spot detection, and collision risk warnings transmitted instantly between vehicles

Applicability of V2I Communication:

Real-time communication with traffic signals, road sensors, and smart infrastructure for preventive action by drivers
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