Connected vehicles are vehicles that can talk with each other and with the roadside infrastructure – sharing information that can warn of hazards and report road conditions. These wireless systems have been envisioned for 25 years and are now coming into reality. Connected vehicles promise to prevent crashes, save lives, and improve traffic efficiency.

UDOT has been involved in planning for, and deploying connected vehicle (CV) technology for about 15 years for the main purpose of supporting its goal of Zero Fatalities. A Connected Vehicle Ecosystem includes specialized radios along the roadside and in vehicles, software apps to facilitate communication between these radios, and tools to analyze and process the data that flows between these elements. The goal is to share data that will prevent crashes and help vehicles move more efficiently.

Beginning in 2015, UDOT began to install connected vehicle elements on a small scale to demonstrate its capabilities and benefits. These early projects enabled UTA buses and UDOT snowplows to communicate with UDOT’s traffic signals and request more ‘green time’ at signalized intersections – making these vehicles more efficient. As the system grew, UDOT began to develop apps to warn drivers of potentially icy roads or impending sharp curves. UDOT also collaborated with other agencies around the country, and with automakers, to encourage broad deployment of these important safety systems.

The video below, presented at a national Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) Summit in August 2022 in Washington, D.C., summarizes UDOT’s connected vehicle deployments and provides insights about how this technology can become mainstream around the country.