This is not directly on-topic, but I thought it was interesting enough to repost here: Toyota to start deploying vehicle-to-vehicle tech in 2021 DETROIT (AP) — April 17, 2018 — Toyota says it will start equipping models with technology to talk to other vehicles starting in 2021, as it tries to push safety communications forward. The company says most of its U.S. models should have the feature by the mid-2020s. Vehicle-to-vehicle signals can warn others of heavy braking ahead or that another vehicle is headed into their path. Vice President of Product Planning Andrew Coetzee says the cars would use dedicated airwaves to send signals up to 984 feet (300 meters). Coetzee hopes other automakers will join. Others are testing it and standards have been developed so they can communicate. Toyota is leading on automatic emergency braking, making it standard on all but four models. The industry has agreed to make it standard on all models in 2022. There's an interesting YouTube video here which gives an example of how standardized vehicle data protocols and real-time communication links could be used to improve traffic flow and safety.
I sure hope security is a prime component, not just tacked on. Because if not, antisocial individuals will be crafting data that snarls up traffic. (ever had children push every button in an elevator?) I very much WANT this to happen, I just don't TRUST that it will be done well.
They should do more than this and build little cell phone antennas to help improve people's cell phone calls in dense city areas. Drivers should be able to opt-out if they have privacy concerns about allowing their cell phone call signals to hop to other cars. Make vehicle-to-vehicle interaction smarter.
When I saw the US requirements, which may have been rolled back, I commented there was no time to incorporate security.
Better than that, car displays a message and you press a button to silent-report the tailgatin' SOB to the nearest cop COMING ON THE PRIUS PRO PACKAGE
I have never heard of a cop pulling someone over for tailgating even though it is illegal. Heck, around here a lot of cops will tailgate.
Or like that Lexus feature that moves the car in front of you out of the left lane so that you can pass. That seems like a bad idea and will be abused.
