As many have written here in the Fast Lane, DOT is very enthusiastic about connected vehicle technology and the safety, mobility, and environmental benefits that it promises. We in the Intelligent Transportation Systems Joint Program Office (ITS JPO) also recognize that this may be a new concept for some. That's why we have recently launched a new website describing the basics of connected vehicles.

Through this new site, everyone can understand the fundamentals of connected vehicles and learn why everyone at DOT is so excited about this promising technology.

Connected vehicle technology will wirelessly connect our vehicles to each other, to our roads, and to our personal mobile devices so they can exchange secure information about their position, speed, brake status, and more. It can also provide timely, situation-appropriate warnings and recommendations to drivers. The Connected Vehicles Basics website answers questions regarding how this technology works, what it makes possible, and how it will be used.

The interactive site introduces users to the concept by asking What Type of Connected Vehicle User Are You? and describing how the technology will benefit the selected type of transportation user (from bicyclists and pedestrians to motorists and commercial truck drivers). The website also offers videos and presentations illustrating connected vehicle technology in action as well as descriptive diagrams of the inside of a connected vehicle. In addition, the site provides details on the next steps for the federal government in deploying connected vehicles and a big-picture view of what is going on with connected vehicle technology around the globe.

Connected vehicles can eliminate 80 percent of accidents where the driver is not impaired. We believe these technologies will become the backbone of a new, smarter transportation infrastructure. This new website will serve as a valuable resource for anyone who wants to understand the fundamental concepts of connected vehicle technology and its ability to increase safety, make commutes easier, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

To see everything our new site offers, please visit: http://www.its.dot.gov/cv_basics/index.htm.

DOT's Intelligent Transportation Systems Joint Program Office, or ITS JPO, operates within the Office of the Assistance Secretary for Research and Technology and is charged with leading research activities in connected vehicle technology.