V2X is the Foundation for Smarter Streets

More than 40,000 people die on U.S. roads each year—a tragic number that hasn’t budged despite advances in vehicle safety. The core problem? Most vehicles still operate in isolation, relying on limited sensors and human reaction times. V2X (Vehicle-to-Everything) communication is due to change that. It enables real-time data exchange between vehicles, traffic signals, pedestrians, cyclists, school zones, emergency services—everything. As autonomous vehicles move from concept to reality, this connectivity isn’t optional—it’s essential. If we’re serious about reducing crashes, easing congestion, and reaching Vision Zero, every new vehicle must be equipped with V2X.

What is V2X?

V2X uses short-range, low-latency wireless signals in the 5.9 GHz band to transmit critical real-time data about a vehicle’s state—speed, location, brake status, steering angle, and more. This creates a layer of situational awareness far beyond what cameras, radar, or LIDAR can provide alone. Unlike vision-based systems—often limited by weather, obstructions, or range—V2X delivers fast, reliable, and anonymous communication. With it, we can develop some powerful new capabilities:

• Instant Crash Alerts: If airbags deploy, first responders immediately get precise location data.
• 360° Hazard Detection: Vehicles become aware of hidden braking or obstacles—well before you see them.
• Vehicle Platooning: Vehicles automatically maintain optimal speed and spacing using real-time data.
• Emergency Vehicle Preemption (EVP): Traffic lights turn green for approaching ambulances or fire trucks - beyond line of sight.
• Transit Signal Priority (TSP): Traffic lights turn green faster or are held green longer for transit busses behind schedule.
• Vulnerable Road User Protection: Pedestrians and cyclists (including those in a driver’s blind spot) are instantly detectable.

This may sound like a futuristic concept but its not. V2X has been in development since the 1990s but progress has been slow. Yet, the technology is already deployed at limited scale in real-world settings and proving its value. It’s tested, it’s working, and it’s ready to scale.

What’s Holding This Back?

For years, the U.S. was paralyzed by an unresolved debate between DSRC and C-V2X. While policymakers delayed, industry innovation stalled and global competitors moved ahead. That all changed in November 2024, when the FCC finalized C-V2X as the national standard and now we have a path forward.

But a chicken-and-egg problem remains:

• OEMs hesitate to add C-V2X to vehicles without widespread roadside units (RSUs).
• DOTs and Infrastructure Owners hesitate to install RSUs until more vehicles are equipped with OBUs.

So we wait, while preventable crashes, deaths, and inefficiencies continue.

But Some States Aren’t Waiting

Despite this challenge, some states are forging ahead:

• Utah DOT: 500+ RSUs blanket both urban intersections and remote corridors, boosting transit signal priority, snowplow operations, and real-time safety alerts.
• Maricopa County, AZ: Deploying ~750 RSUs, plus installations in 400+ public vehicles—making it one of the most extensive C-V2X rollouts in the nation.
• Connecting the West (UT, CO, WY): A multi-state initiative providing cross-border alerts for weather hazards, work zones, and freight safety—showcasing seamless regional connectivity.
• Several other state DOTs are equipping areas with Connected Corridors (California, Georgia, Michigan, Florida to name a few)

While deployments continue, V2X is already making an impact in cities using it today. Emergency vehicles are responding faster with signal preemption. Buses are staying on schedule by clearing intersections more efficiently. Snowplows are keeping roads clear and traffic moving during snowstorms.

But this is just the beginning.

EVs Lead the Headlines — AVs and V2X Will Lead the Future

Tesla, Rivian, and other EV leaders have reshaped the auto industry, but electrification alone won’t solve traffic safety or congestion. Fortunately, these companies are also advancing autonomy, turning vehicles into sensor-rich computing platforms. But even these sensor-rich vehicles can only see so much—V2X aims to fill these gaps. It serves as the connective layer, enabling real-time coordination across intersections, fleets, and transportation modes. Together, AVs leveraging V2X is the real game-changer—unlocking a level of vehicle coordination that makes roads safer, traffic more efficient, and driving unlike anything we've experienced before.

If these forward-thinking OEMs truly want to revolutionize mobility, they need to start integrating V2X on-board units (OBUs) now—not for PR, but to lead and accelerate industry-wide adoption.

The Opportunity — and the Ask

The new federal administration has emphasized efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and results. V2X aligns directly with those priorities—delivering smarter infrastructure, smoother traffic flow, and long-term value for taxpayers. But to realize its full potential, we need federal leadership to take action:

1. Mandate V2X in new vehicles — or at minimum, establish an “if-equipped” performance standard through NHTSA.
2. Continue to fund roadside deployments — prioritizing the 100,000 intersections that could be upgraded within five years.
3. Provide technical assistance to states and cities — including clear implementation roadmaps, workforce training, and technical guidance.
4. Educate the public — to build awareness, trust, and demand for connected vehicle technology.

This isn’t just about tech. It’s about safer roads, creating more American jobs, and breaking the status quo. And it’s something everyone—left, right, urban, rural—should get behind.

Final Thought

Seat belts, ABS, backup cameras—every safety innovation was once met with skepticism. They felt optional, even excessive, until they became standard features we can’t imagine driving without. V2X is next. It’s not experimental. It’s been tested in cities across the country, proven to save time, reduce crashes, and improve how vehicles move through intersections and corridors.

The technology is ready. The benefits are clear. What’s missing is bold, decisive action. We need federal leadership, industry alignment, and public awareness to bring this life-saving technology to scale. V2X won’t just make driving safer— it will make traffic smarter, emissions lower, emergency response faster, and ultimately improve the shared human experience of driving.

The question isn’t whether V2X will be essential—it’s how long we’re willing to wait.

What can you do?

• Share this article.
• Ask your state DOT: what’s your plan for V2X?
• If you're in the industry — push your company to adopt and advocate.
• If you're in government — champion this.
• If you're in tech — integrate it.