As described in the Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) Strategic Research Plan, 2010-2014, the Department is committing to the use of the DSRC technologies for active safety for both vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) applications. The Department is also reaffirming its intention to explore all wireless technologies for their applicability to safety, mobility, and environmental applications.
In 2008, the ITS Program framed the definition of connectivity to include both DSRC and non-DSRC technologies as a means of providing an open connected vehicle platform. Such a framework has multiple benefits:

• It will allow for the integration of a wider array of technologies and thus enable private industry to develop innovative technologies that may offer new or additional features.
• It will allow the connected vehicle architecture to adapt as technologies evolve over time, ensuring that the vehicle network incorporates innovative approaches and applications as they become available.
• It will ensure that benefits are not limited only to drivers of vehicles that are equipped with connected vehicle technologies.

The Department's commitment to DSRC highlights two critical points:

• That safety is the highest priority for the Department and will form the central focus for the connected vehicle technologies.
• That analysis illustrates that DSRC is the only available technology in the near-term that offers the latency, accuracy, and reliability needed for active safety (for further discussion, view DRSC Frequently Asked Questions.

Fact Sheet

• Dedicated Short Range Communications (DSRC)

Research Contact

To learn more about this research, contact:

Walton Fehr
Program Manager, Systems Engineering
Research and Innovative Technology Administration
ITS Joint Program Office
(202) 366-0278
walton.fehr@dot.gov