Last updated: 11 April 2014
Although you may not think about it often, the transportation industry is extremely important in our everyday lives. It not only gets us from point A to point B, it also gets the products we need to where we need them. Now, imagine a world where our vehicles and roadways are connected and can “talk” to each other to make transit more efficient. You don’t have to imagine it – M2M technology is already playing a key role in making transit better in millions of vehicles, road signs, and fleets around the world, relaying information in real time. Now it’s coming to America.
How can you expect to benefit from connected roadways?
- Real time alerts to help you make better route decisions. A connected car can provide real-time updates on weather, traffic, and road conditions. Is there a roadblock or traffic congestion coming up? Your car can let you know and provide alternate route suggestions.
- Faster access to assistance. In the case of an accident, your car can alert operators, who can dispatch appropriate assistance. The EU’s implementation of this M2M capability saw that the response time of emergency services was 60 percent faster in urban areas and as much as 50 percent faster in rural locations.
- Maintenance alerts. Time for new tires? Your car could alert you via text message to any maintenance issues that need to be addressed, getting unsafe vehicles off of the road.
- Public transportation information. Connected trains and buses can provide information on their current location and how long it will take to get to your stop. If the public transportation of your choice is running late, it may be able to suggest an alternate form of transit that would be faster.
- Fleet and freight management. For truck drivers carrying goods, M2M can trace routes and track driving time. For example, the most optimal route will be chosen to avoid traffic and ensure time efficiency, while limiting the driver to eight hour driving shifts for safety. M2M can also monitor the physical goods to make sure they are in the right place, are secure and are at the right temperature.
With M2M, we are truly entering a new era of driving convenience and efficiency. And, with Juniper Research estimating that there will be 92 million connected vehicles in operation by 2016, you will likely be experiencing a connected roadway very soon.
