FCC Sets Aside Smart Highway Frequencies

WASHINGTON December 17, 2003; Jonathan D.Salant writing for the AP reported that a flashing light in your car lets you know it's safe to change lanes. An alarm warns you at an intersection that another driver is speeding through. A beeping sound tells you you're getting too close to the motorist in front of you.

The information would be broadcast to you from sensors along the highway over special frequencies that no one else could use.

Though the technology is still five to 10 years away, the Federal Communications Commission on Wednesday set aside an area of broadcast spectrum to transmit those signals, rather than have them share space with electronic toll sensors, cell phones and garage door openers.

The idea is to reduce the 6 million crashes that occur each year on U.S. highways, which kill 42,000 people and cost more than $230 billion, according to the Transportation Department.

"We're making it safer for everyone who relies on the roads," FCC Commissioner Kathleen Abernathy said. "There were a couple of cars ahead of me this morning that would have used this collision avoidance system."

The warnings could be received within 100 yards of the transmitters, and thus are only for communications between vehicles or between a vehicle and a sensor along the road.

"This new radio spectrum will help prevent crashes, bring important real-time information into cars and let drivers concentrate on driving," Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta said.

Transportation Department officials are testing the technology at an intersection in McLean, Va., where sensors can automatically warn a motorist when another car is approaching, helping to avoid collisions.

Not everyone is enthusiastic about the technology, however.

"A lot of these systems are based on the idea that if you could simply warn drivers in advance of an impending crash, the driver could take action to prevent the crash," said Russ Rader, a spokesman for the industry-funded Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. "But drivers don't always do the right thing. They don't take the appropriate action. Warning them ahead of time has no benefit."

Mineta said the new frequencies also could be used at railroad grade crossings, and to allow emergency vehicles to control traffic signals.