This presentation gave a status report about the current status of wireless technology in the field of V2X (=V2V – vehicle to vehicle & V2I-vehicle to infrastructure). It is may also be known as C2X = Car to x. Its deployment is expected for CY2015. It is an essential part of the IT’S (Intelligent Transport System), which is anticipated to significantly reduce the number of road accidents.

This driver assistance technology uses Radio frequency devices, intended to extend the possibility of communication between vehicles and other road user over a distance of up to 200m and at low cost. It goes beyond the classic communication that it based on visual or audible contacts between the road users, either via eyes, ears or cameras. Objects covered by buildings, trees or other vehicles are detectable on a bi-directional communication, allowing the proactive participation in traffic under safety aspects. Also it allows safer, more efficient and more comfortable driving.

There are a number of activities ongoing on a worldwide basis where both governmental bodies and Industry work together on the further development of this technology. The associated technologies are integrated into vehicle systems to a constantly increasing degree. The idea behind RFID tags is to inform the vehicle driver about the proximity of a vulnerable road user. In a second step a notification to the pedestrian shall be raised. Today it is not clear which kind of Human Machine Interface shall be used – a Smartphone is one opportunity. Up to now there are no dedicated solutions for blind road users. It is a general challenge for the V2X technology if users at both ends are equipped with the specific devices. The European Commission is specifically interested in how it is thought to avoid the risk of overloading road users with additional information coming from V2X technology. It also expects a much bigger advantage for the driver as for the vulnerable road user. NFB sees the concern that probably blind people wouldn’t want to carry an additional device, so that it is questionable if such a system could work reliably. In terms of using the mobile phone as carrier of a RFID it was stated that today’s Android technology is not suitable to be used by blind people.