Vehicle-to-Vehicle Communication Technology

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) is considering a nationwide Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) communication rollout to reduce road accidents.

About Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) Communication

Vehicle-to-Vehicle communication allows cars to share real-time safety information using short-range wireless signals.
Hazard-Proof: Vehicles exchange data on speed, position, braking, etc. to predict potential road hazards.
Network Model: V2V operates on Wireless Ad Hoc Networks (VANETs), where vehicles act as nodes without cellular towers.
Message System: Basic Safety Messages (BSM) are transmitted up to ten times per second to maintain continuous situational awareness.
Communication Range: V2V signals typically cover about 300 metres and can penetrate obstacles or blind corners.
Onboard Hardware: Vehicles use Onboard Units (OBU) and SIM card-like secure modules to authenticate and transmit encrypted messages.
ADAS Integration: V2V data feeds into Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) to trigger automatic braking or evasive steering.

Collision: V2V warns drivers when a vehicle ahead brakes suddenly or remains hidden within blind spots.
Intersection: It alerts drivers to cross-traffic at intersections, reducing the risk of side-impact crashes.
Emergency: Vehicles receive alerts about approaching emergency responders or hazardous conditions.
Platooning: V2V allows trucks to follow each other closely at high speeds to reduce wind resistance.

Interoperability: All manufacturers must adopt common, interoperable communication protocols for effective deployment.
Cyber Threats: V2V networks are vulnerable to spoofing and illusion attacks, causing fake messages to trigger unsafe braking or rerouting.
Latency Risks: Dense urban traffic and high speeds can delay time-critical safety communications.
Privacy: Continuous data exchange raises risks of driver tracking or leakage of location data.