By Onn Haran
According to the 2024 US Tech Experience Index (TXI) Study by J.D. Power, vehicle owners are only interested in features that solve real problems. Features like hands-on driver assistance and passenger display screens scored low in usefulness compared to those that address specific concerns, such as visual blind spots when backing up. [1] You can almost hear an uncle ranting: “I don’t need any help driving! I can see the road risks just fine with my own eyes”.
While V2X wasn’t included in the study as it is currently not deployed in the US, the findings offer insights into the future acceptance of V2X. V2X technology fits the category of features that solve a genuine problem. Not just one, but multiple problems are solved by (and only with) V2X.
EuroNCAP began grading Local Hazard Warnings in 2023, defining nine key warnings. A traffic jam warning, for instance, alerts drivers when approaching the end of a jam, providing early warnings for avoiding hard braking. Other hazards, like slippery roads, can’t be mitigated without V2X, highlighting the critical role of V2X in solving real driver safety problems.
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) V2X deployment plan aims to equip 25% of signalized intersections with V2X by 2028 and 50% by 2031.[2] V2X infrastructure can prevent accidents by warning drivers about red-light runners, an issue that causes over 1,000 fatalities annually in the US. While drivers don’t like to think about this whenever crossing an intersection, the problem can’t get more real than that. Smart intersections, equipped with sensors to detect all road users, including Vulnerable Road Users (VRUs), will further enhance safety, by alerting about any hidden road user that might pop up in the driver’s path, using alerts such as left turn warning.
As V2X becomes widespread, it will provide drivers with crucial information about unseen hazards. Even without smart intersection technology, V2X will allow drivers to detect other vehicles, motorcyclists, or cyclists near intersections, offering a new level of awareness. Just as drivers value backup cameras for providing visibility that would otherwise be impossible, they will appreciate V2X technology for revealing hidden information around corners that would otherwise remain undetected.
Unlike many safety features, which OEMs only include when mandated due to low perceived value, V2X is different. Customers will recognize its unique benefits, and OEMs can expect a positive return on investment as more drivers experience its advantages. The cost-effectiveness of a V2X solution further supports this. It all suggests that OEMs should adopt V2X technology even before mandates are in place. It’s a true win-win situation.
[1] https://www.jdpower.com/business/press-releases/2024-us-tech-experience-index-txi-study
[2] https://www.its.dot.gov/research_areas/emerging_tech/pdf/Accelerate_V2X_Deployment_final.pdf
