Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) Technology 

Why in News?

Rising Highway Accidents and Tech-Based Solutions

• In January 2026, multiple fatal accidents on Indian highways due to fog, low visibility, and high-speed collisions renewed attention on Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) technology as a preventive road-safety intervention.

India’s Road Safety Context

Scale of the Problem

• India records over 1.5 lakh road deaths annually (MoRTH data), with highways accounting for a disproportionate share due to overspeeding, poor visibility, and delayed driver reaction times.

Visibility-Related Risks

• Dense fog zones in north India significantly reduce stopping distance and reaction time, making traditional safety tools like headlights, reflectors, and road signage insufficient.

What is Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) Technology?

Core Concept

• V2V is a wireless communication system that allows vehicles to exchange real-time data such as speed, position, braking, and direction to prevent crashes before drivers can visually react.

Communication Range

• Vehicles communicate within approximately 200 metres, creating a digital safety bubble beyond the driver’s line of sight.

How V2V Technology Works

Onboard Communication Units

• Each vehicle is fitted with an Onboard Unit (OBU) that continuously broadcasts and receives safety messages from nearby vehicles.

Data Exchanged

• Shared data includes:
  • Sudden braking events
  • Speed changes
  • Vehicle position and direction
  • Loss of traction or unsafe distance

Driver Alerts and Safety Outcomes

Real-Time Warnings

• Drivers receive alerts for:
  • Sudden braking ahead
  • Vehicles stopped beyond visibility range
  • Slow or wrong-way vehicles
  • Cars approaching from blind spots

: Crash Prevention Mechanism

• Unlike cameras or radars, V2V works even without visual contact, making it particularly effective in fog, curves, and night driving.

Technology Stack Behind V2V

Communication Protocols

• V2V uses Dedicated Short-Range Communications (DSRC) or Cellular V2X (C-V2X), enabling low-latency, high-reliability message exchange.

Privacy-by-Design

• Messages are anonymous and non-trackable, designed only for safety alerts, not surveillance or driver profiling.

Global Experience with V2V

International Adoption

• Advanced economies have tested V2V as part of ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems), showing significant reductions in rear-end and chain collisions.

Limits of Partial Adoption

• Safety benefits rise sharply only when a large proportion of vehicles are V2V-enabled, creating a network effect.

Cost and Implementation Challenges

Cost Barrier

• Estimated cost is around ₹5,000 per vehicle, affordable at scale but challenging for India’s vast fleet of legacy vehicles.

Mixed Traffic Conditions

• India’s roads host cars, trucks, buses, two-wheelers, tractors, and pedestrians, complicating uniform deployment and standardisation.

Infrastructure and Regulatory Gaps

Absence of Mandates

• Unlike seat belts or airbags, V2V is not yet mandated under Indian vehicle safety regulations.

Spectrum and Standards

• Allocation of spectrum, interoperability standards, and certification frameworks remain underdeveloped for large-scale rollout.

V2V vs Other Road Safety Measures

Complement, Not Replacement

• V2V cannot replace:
  • Speed regulation
  • Road engineering improvements
  • Enforcement and driver behaviour change
• It acts as a preventive overlay, enhancing reaction time.

Limitations

• V2V does not prevent:
  • Pedestrian accidents
  • Non-connected vehicles
  • Deliberate reckless driving

India-Specific Use Cases

High-Impact Zones

• V2V offers maximum benefits in:
  • Fog-prone highway corridors
  • Accident black spots
  • Mountain roads and sharp curves
  • Long-haul freight routes

Freight and Commercial Fleets

• Early adoption in trucks and buses could deliver outsized safety gains due to vehicle size, braking distance, and long driving hours.

Way Forward

Phased Adoption Strategy

• Begin with:
  • Mandatory V2V in new commercial vehicles
  • Pilot corridors on high-risk highways
  • Incentives for OEM integration

Policy and Ecosystem Support

• Develop:
  • National V2X standards
  • Spectrum allocation policy
  • Integration with Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS)

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