The New York State Department of Transportation has selected Volvo Technology to lead the development and demonstration of an advanced commercial vehicle infrastructure integration (CVII) programme.

The programme will enhance highway user-safety by letting ‘smart’ vehicles and highway infrastructure communicate information to the driver.

The driver will be provided with information including safety warnings of potential hazards and general traveller information.

In addition, wireless communication can also be used to improve commercial vehicle productivity and fuel efficiency, and reduce CO2 emissions.

The programme, funded by the I-95 Corridor Coalition in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration, is the first CVII programme for developing and demonstrating the technology for commercial vehicles.

The technology uses real-time data to provide drivers with reliable information with clear advice or warnings.

The programme will test the ability to gather real-time information about important vehicle safety components such as brake conditions.

The CVII team is led by Volvo Technology North America and includes Booz Allen Hamilton, Kapsch TrafficCom, Cambridge Systematics, Southwest Research Institute and Fitzgerald & Halliday.