Cars to ‘tell’ drivers of road hazards

MOTORISTS at risk of driving into flooded areas could soon be warned of the danger by new technology which allows cars to alert other vehicles to road hazards in their vicinity.

Under EU road safety plans, “smart car” technology is seen as a major step to help combat high levels of fatal road accidents and traffic jams across Europe.

The European Commission has recently decided to reserve part of the radio spectrum in all EU member states for smart vehicle communications systems The use of such wireless communication technology will effectively enable cars to “talk” to other vehicles. For example, the technology can be used to allow cars to warn other drivers of slippery roads or a crash which has just happened.