By Onn Haran
Vehicle-to-everything communication (V2X) has a unique ability to prevent accidents between obstructed road users. While the safety benefits are undeniable, it fails to break the chicken-and-egg vicious cycle: Why add V2X if no one else has it?
Modern vehicles are very safe. Drivers have a strong sense of protection. This feeling of assurance can dissipate in two main cases: the fear of getting smashed by a truck, and the fear of hitting a two-wheeler or a pedestrian, collectively called vulnerable road users (VRUs).
VRUs are hardly physically protected, making them susceptible to serious injuries in the event of an accident. To elevate their protection level, bicyclists and motorcyclists are the road users most likely to purchase safety devices. However, it is hard to expect two-wheelers to lead the V2X adoption while automakers aren’t hurrying to deploy.
When a truck driver and a passenger car are involved in a fatal accident, the truck driver has an extremely low probability of dying, just 3 percent. Nevertheless, no truck driver wants to be involved in an accident. On top of the mental impact, an accident can cost the driver his job and the operator severe monetary damage. Considering the high truck cost, adding V2X is just a drop in the bucket.
