U.S. Subcommittee Holds Hearing on Connected Cars

June 29, 2015—The U.S. House Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade under the Energy and Commerce Committee held a hearing on June 24 named “Vehicle to Vehicle Communications and Connected Roadways of the Future.”

During the hearing, members addressed issues associated with emerging telematics, vehicle-to-vehicle communication (V2V), and vehicle-to-infrastructure communication (V2I).

The witness panel included leaders in vehicle technology development. Nathaniel Beuse, associate administrator of Vehicle Safety Research for the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), and Dr. Peter Sweatman, director of the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute, were among those on the panel. Witness testimony focused on the lifesaving potential of V2V technologies, national and international standards, future congressional rulemaking, and the timeline for implementation.

Beuse will make a presentation at the Automotive Service Association’s NACE/CARS Show in Detroit on July 23.

Panelist Harry Lightsey, executive director for the Global Connected Customer Experience for General Motors LLC, said: “NHTSA has estimated that V2V could by itself impact more than 80 percent of the over four million annual unimpaired light vehicle crashes, saving lives and reducing $871 billion in costs to our nation’s economy each year,” said panelist Harry Lightsey, executive director, Global Connected Customer Experience for General Motors LLC. “V2V’s effectiveness depends on it being deployed across all vehicle makes and models…We are aware and are encouraged that many other automakers have plans to deploy V2V technology in the near future.”

“While the progress and potential of this technology are clear, we in Congress must continue to ensure proper oversight as NHTSA moves aggressively toward its goal of finalizing its V2V rulemaking by the end of this year,” said Rep. Frank Pallone, ranking member, D-N.J., during his opening statement. “While pushing for V2V-enabled cars, NHTSA must also ensure drivers have the most beneficial crash avoidance and crashworthiness technologies in all cars, not just those supported by V2V communications.”

At the end of the hearing, members expressed their intent to closely follow the issue, with a special attention to NHTSA’s rulemaking process. For more information, click here.