March 30, 2005 - - Visualize a national system that equips vehicles to warn drivers of potential hazards and changing road conditions, and uses technology to manage traffic and relieve congestion locally and throughout an entire regional transportation system. Though it may seem futuristic, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is taking a leadership role today in Dearborn, bringing together representatives of domestic and foreign automakers, state departments of transportation and national transportation officials to discuss policy issues surrounding the next generation of automotive communications technology, known as vehicle infrastructure integration or VII.
"Real-time communication between vehicles - and between vehicles and roadways - will substantially improve safety and make highways more efficient for motorists, businesses, and first responders," said MDOT Director Gloria J. Jeff. "We need to optimize the system to be smarter and to respond faster as we move people and goods more efficiently."
Components of the VII initiative include probe vehicle data, active safety (real-time systems), passive safety (non-real time systems), and national, regional, and local communications networks. Topics to be discussed Wednesday include public and private sector partnerships, legal and privacy issues, technical applications, and critical transportation linkages.
"MDOT has taken a very active leadership role at the national level to ensure that Michigan's interests in VII research and development -- both in vehicle and in-roadway deployment -- are met," said MDOT Chief Deputy Director Kirk Steudle. "How do we use VII to increase mobility, reduce delays, and improve congestion? Those are important challenges that we are working to meet as part of an international partnership."
Participating in Wednesday's meeting are: Ford Motor Company; Motorola; Hyundai Kia American Tech Center, Inc.; OnStar; BMW of North America; Toyota North America, Inc.; Volkswagen of America, Inc.; the Association of International Automakers Manufacturers; ITS Michigan; Metropolitan Transportation Commission; General Motors Corporation; Toyota Technical Center, USA. Inc.; Nissan-USA; American Association of State Highways and Transportation Officials (AASHTO);Volkswagen of America, Inc.; the U.S. Department of Transportation; Honda R&D Americas, Inc.; Subaru; the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; Daimler Chrysler Corporation; MDOT, and representatives of the Virginia, California, Georgia, Florida, Minnesota, Washington, Utah, New York, and Idaho state departments of transportation.
"Gov. Granholm's Jobs Tomorrow proposal completely anticipates the high tech, high- skilled jobs that will be created as the result of Michigan taking a central role in developing VII technology. We are privileged to be at the center of the development of cutting edge technologies that have global implications," said Director Jeff.
MDOT: Celebrating 100 years of transportation innovation, 1905-2005
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