Europe ready for Car2X deployment

The EC co-funded project DRIVE C2X provides proof that cooperative systems work and demonstrates a positive impact on safety, travel efficiency and the environment, with high user acceptance. Moreover, it shows evidence of the economic viability of cooperative systems.

These conclusions have been announced during the final review of this research project, on July 16 and 17, 2014 in Berlin.

During this three and a half years project, more than 750 drivers tested eight safety-related functions of cooperative functions all over Europe. The operational tests took place in seven test sites in Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain and Sweden. In total, more than 200 vehicles drove more than 1,5 million km.

A faultless performance of the functions during these extensive field trials has shown that the system is mature for deployment.

The tests have clearly demonstrated a positive impact of DRIVE C2X on safety and efficiency. Drivers reacted to information and warning signals. As an example, the In-Vehicle Signage (IVS) on speed limit and Weather Warning (WW) showed most potential to decrease fatalities. Assuming a 100% penetration rate, IVS speed limit that provides continuous information would reduce on average 23% in fatalities and 13% in injuries. WW would lead to 6% less fatalities and 5% less injuries.