GM DEBUTS NEXT STEP IN VEHICLE-TO-VEHICLE COMMUNICATIONS

By Zach Bowman, Autoblog.com - General Motors is working on a new vehicle communications system that could help avert up to 81 per cent of crashes, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The system uses small mobile devices, like smart phone applications, to gather information about the vehicle's surroundings. The system could alert the driver of stalled vehicles on the side of the road, drivers who are abruptly stopping, averse road conditions and even stop signs and stop lights before the hazards come into view. GM is already testing the system in two ways -- with a small dash-mounted transponder and a smartphone application that integrates with the vehicle's in-dash display.

The system uses dedicated short-range communications, or DSRC, to transfer data between similar devises within a half-kilometre radius. In addition, the system can communicate with fixed radios connected to traffic lights or construction zones.

GM says that the tech could arrive in the automaker's vehicles in as little as a decade. If it works as promised, the technology could not only keep us out of a fender bender, but it could also alleviate traffic congestion and help drivers get where they're going more efficiently. We like the sound of that.