Why In News?

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) issued a draft notification to make Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) safety communication systems mandatory for all new vehicles manufactured from October 1, 2028.

What is Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) Technology?

It is an advanced wireless communication framework that enables nearby motor vehicles to continuously broadcast and receive real-time data regarding their speed, location, direction, acceleration, and braking status.

As a core component of the Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) framework, it uses a peer-to-peer mesh network to create an expansive, connected vehicle ecosystem aimed at preventing road accidents.  

Working Mechanism: Compliant vehicles utilize factory-fitted On-Board Units (OBUs), which contain direct communication radios (C-V2X), Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receivers, and on-board processors.

Real-Time Data Exchange: Vehicles periodically broadcast small packets of low-latency data (at a rate up to 10–25 Hz). These packets carry parameters including:

  • Vehicle speed, acceleration, and deceleration status 

  • Real-time GPS coordinates and direction of travel 

  • Braking status and lane-change maneuvers 

Operating Range: It functions via direct short-range communication up to approximately 300 metres with millisecond-level latency, working independently of cellular mobile networks. 

Significance

Mitigating High Road Fatalities: India accounts for about 11% of global road deaths despite having only 1% of the world’s vehicles. V2V directly addresses the 78% of accidents caused by human error by giving drivers proactive warnings.

Overcoming Line-of-Sight Limitations: Unlike cameras or Radar/LiDAR sensors in current Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) that require a direct line of sight, V2V can detect threats around blind corners, over crests, or through heavy fog and monsoon downpours.

Traffic Optimization & Platooning: Real-time speed coordination allows for "platooning" (vehicles driving close together safely at constant speeds), which reduces aerodynamic drag, optimizes fuel consumption, and cuts urban traffic congestion.  

Source: business-standard 

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. With reference to Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) communication technology, consider the following statements:

  1. It functions as a foundational subset of the broader Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) communication framework.

  2. It relies entirely on commercial 5G cellular network subscriptions to transmit data between vehicles.

  3. It can transmit safety data across a non-line-of-sight range, allowing a vehicle to detect hazards hidden around blind corners.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: c

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: V2V (Vehicle-to-Vehicle) is a direct sub-category of the broader Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) architecture, which also includes V2I (Vehicle-to-Infrastructure) and V2P (Vehicle-to-Pedestrian).  

Statement 2 is incorrect: V2V functions via direct peer-to-peer transmissions (using dedicated spectrum bands like 5.9 GHz) without needing a cellular network subscription or routing data through telecom towers.

Statement 3 is correct: Radio frequency signals broadcasted by nearby vehicles pass through or bend around obstacles, enabling non-line-of-sight (NLOS) warnings for hidden hazards and blind curves.