Many automakers are spending a lot of money on developing all kinds of in-car connectivity solutions, amid growing consumer demand for features that enable vehicle occupants to stay connected to the outside world while traveling.
Increased in-car connectivity is bound to affect drivers of the future. Hands-free Bluetooth and wireless LAN technologies are already starting to change the way people drive and to affect the overall occupant experience. These technologies are aimed at making vehicles more fuel efficient, safer and more reliable, ultimately leading to improved traffic safety, reduced congestion and lower air pollution.
Numerous Safety Benefits
With vehicles being able to communicate with each other and with the infrastructure, they can help eliminate accidents, or at least reduce them, by sharing information on potential road hazards and notifying drivers of crashes along their route and weather and road conditions.
Connected cars can share information on their speed and position at all times, as well as various actions that drivers take, such as making turns or abrupt stops, alerting other drivers on the road of their actions. This will allow other drivers to be up to speed with the actions of surrounding vehicles at all times, which will give them enough time to react appropriately and take evasive maneuvers in case of an emergency.
Making Car Travel More Convenient
Also, connected cars can help drivers plan their trips more easily, by providing them with information on road conditions and traffic congestion in real time, and suggest the best and most convenient route to their destination, saving them time and helping them save a lot of fuel.
What’s more, connected cars will make for more efficient driving. They will be able to adjust their speed in accordance with the conditions on the road and the speed of other vehicles, optimizing following distance and preventing unnecessary rapid acceleration or hard braking, which will lead to reduced fuel consumption.
In summation, in-car connectivity is expected to have a wide-ranging positive impact and bring about many benefits to drivers and passengers, and improve traffic in general. Connected cars will improve traffic safety by sharing information on their position and speed with other cars and with the infrastructure, warning all surrounding drivers of potentially dangerous road conditions. They will also reduce traffic congestion, and subsequently air pollution since they will be able to drive more efficiently than conventional cars.