Thanks to its vast array of potential applications, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication remains a top priority for roadway safety organizations. V2X technology is paving the way for enhanced safety and efficiency on the roads by facilitating the real-time exchange of digital information between vehicles and their surroundings.

To fully harness this potential, experts in the transportation space, including The Intelligent Transportation Society of America (ITSA), emphasize the need for further advancements. The ITSA, the leading organization in the U.S. for connected transportation solutions and infrastructure, has recently unveiled its Beyond 5.9 GHz V2X Deployment Plan. 

This comprehensive guide serves as a blueprint for realizing the full potential of networked V2X in the United States in order to achieve our national objective of zero roadway deaths each year.

This new plan builds on ITSA’s initial V2X deployment strategy from April 2023, which focused on the 5.9 GHz spectrum. In October of 2023, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) released a draft plan that included using V2X technology outside the 5.9 GHz band. ITSA’s latest plan expands on these efforts, aiming to help the U.S. achieve its transportation goals swiftly and comprehensively.

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What is the Beyond 5.9 Plan?

The Beyond 5.9 plan emphasizes the strategic importance of complementary methods of achieving V2X applications, including networked V2X technology. Networked V2X leverages modern cellular networks like 4G LTE and 5G, along with advanced cloud and edge computing platforms, to enable things on the road to communicate for V2X applications. This approach enhances reliability, reduces response times, and supports a wide range of V2X applications while minimizing costs by using existing connectivity infrastructure.

The plan differentiates between direct V2X, which offers unparalleled speed and responsiveness for split-second decision-making such as pedestrian collision prevention in crosswalks, and networked V2X, which is better suited for delivering long-range alerts about road conditions and hazards. It also includes comprehensive guidance for stakeholders and includes a collection of policy suggestions, such as including networked V2X in all V2X initiatives, establishing a fleet modernization fund, and researching the impact of digital alerts on distracted driving.

The Beyond 5.9 GHz V2X Deployment Plan represents a significant step forward in the journey towards a connected and safer transportation ecosystem. By embracing a diverse, multi-band approach and leveraging modern connectivity solutions, the plan sets a robust foundation for achieving networked V2X at scale in the United States.

As technology continues to evolve, this comprehensive strategy ensures that the nation remains at the forefront of automotive innovation, enhancing safety and efficiency on the roads for years to come.

USDOT’s Commitment to V2X

In alignment with these efforts, the USDOT recently announced the “Saving Lives with Connectivity: A Plan to Accelerate V2X Deployment.” This plan underscores the department’s commitment to reducing roadway fatalities to zero by guiding the implementation of V2X technologies nationwide. U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg highlighted the plan’s potential to save lives and transform travel, emphasizing the collaborative effort between government, industry, and stakeholders.

The plan, which supports the Safe System Approach of the National Roadway Safety Strategy, aims to create a safe, efficient, and sustainable transportation system through the deployment of interoperable V2X technologies. 

Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology and Chief Scientist Dr. Robert C.Hampshire noted that the plan would accelerate investment, research, and deployment in V2X, providing market certainty for stakeholders. Federal Highway Administrator Shailen Bhatt echoed these sentiments, calling the plan a framework for continued collaboration towards the goal of accelerating V2X deployment to save lives on our nation’s roadways.

2024 Developments and Grants

Alongside the national plan, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) announced nearly $60 million in grants to promote V2X technology deployment. These grants aim to advance the lifesaving potential of V2X communication while ensuring secure and interference-free communication across various devices and platforms.

Brock Aun, VP of Communications and Public Policy at HAAS Alert, joined longtime colleagues, friends, and transportation officials to address the audience at the plan’s release on August 16, 2024. 

He highlighted the importance of this landmark document and thanked those involved in the extensive stakeholder engagement from both the public and private sectors. He noted that achieving vehicle-to-everything technology deployment at scale is a challenge. But finding the solution will unlock a permanently safer, smarter, and intelligent transportation system. It can help prevent the 40,000+ deaths we’re experiencing on our roads every year. 

Visit the FHWA’s website for more information on the V2X national plan and available grants.