The Growing Roadway Safety Crisis
In cities across the nation, traffic intersections represent not just points of connection but also critical areas of concern due to rising collisions and congestion. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that over 50% of fatal and injury crashes occur at or near these intersections. The growing number of pedestrian fatalities, reaching a 10-year high in 2021 with over 7,000 deaths, further accentuates the need for innovative safety solutions.
Figure 1 - Pedestrian fatalities by year (Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS))
The Rise of V2X Technology
In response to the safety crisis, the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) released a Draft National V2X Deployment Plan in 2023 and transportation agencies are increasingly adopting V2X technology to improve road safety. Vehicle-to-everything (V2X), a key component of connected vehicle applications, allows vehicles to communicate with each other and with traffic infrastructure, enhancing situational awareness and preventing accidents.
Figure 2 - USDOT Announces the Draft National V2X Deployment Plan
While not all vehicles are currently V2X-equipped, transportation agencies are proactively equipping public fleet vehicles such as snowplows and school buses with V2X technology to receive critical in-vehicle alerts. By providing connected vehicles with proactive alerts and warnings, drivers can make more informed decisions and take preventive actions, leading to a substantial reduction in the risk of collisions.
Agencies are setting a standard, encouraging widespread adoption and paving the way for a future where every vehicle contributes to overall road safety.
Integrating Detection Data with V2X Technology
Iteris' recent release of Vantage CV™ marks a significant advancement in addressing roadway fatalities.
Building off Vantage Fusion technology, Vantage CV combines the accuracy, performance and advanced applications of Iteris detection with a comprehensive connected vehicle (CV) solution stack, providing transportation agencies with a platform for deploying life-saving CV applications.
"Our focus with Vantage CV was not just on current needs but on future readiness,” said Will Cousins, Sr. Vice President & Chief Product Officer. “The platform's extensibility for apps and analytics ensures that intersections are not just keeping pace with smart city evolution but are a step ahead, ready for tomorrow's challenges."
Moreover, Vantage CV’s innovative nature offers agencies a comprehensive solution to help capture crucial federal grants, such as Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) and Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART), fueling advancements for safer, more efficient roadways.
System Architecture and Applications
At its core, Vantage CV relies on real-time video and radar detection data from Vantage Next® or Vantage Apex® detection systems. The data is relayed to the App Engine, a powerful in-cabinet processor that processes the data and generates V2X safety messages broadcasted by the BlueTOAD® C-V2X roadside unit (RSU).
Anything detected by the detection sensors can be communicated to drivers to enhance situational awareness and reduce crashes. Today, Vantage CV offers pedestrian presence in the crosswalk and red-light runner alerts and provides the foundation for more applications.
These life-saving alerts can be especially beneficial for agency fleet vehicles (e.g. school buses, maintenance trucks, snowplows) with poor visibility of pedestrians.
Figure 3 - Vantage CV system architecture diagram – Red-light running CV application.
Validate V2X Deployments and Measure Results
Vantage CV also includes a software suite to provide traffic professionals with comprehensive analytics, reporting and tools.
VantageARGUS CV (formerly BlueARGUS) allows users to view V2X message streams and movement patterns, with automated location reporting. RSU monitoring offers crucial metrics on one speed map for intuitive decision-making.
Figure 4 - RSU monitoring and SPAT information displayed on a map in VantageARGUS CV.
ClearGuide Signals provides pedestrian and red-light running analytics to identify potential conflicts between pedestrians and vehicles and prioritize intersections for safety countermeasures.
Transportation professionals can monitor, decode and validate real-time CV data from V2X communications with VantageARGUS CV software or in the field with the Iteris V2X Connect™ tablet app, all on an interactive map.
A Call to Action
“We are on a crusade to end deaths on American roadways and injuries and that is a noble calling whether you are public sector [or] private sector.” – Shailen Bhatt (FHWA Administrator)
As the roadway safety crisis continues to escalate, Vantage CV emerges as a vital tool in the quest to safeguard lives and improve daily commutes. For transportation professionals committed to enhancing intersection safety and efficiency, Vantage CV offers a forward-looking solution.
If you are seeking to transform your city's intersections, we invite you to contact us to learn more about how Vantage CV can be an integral part of your traffic management strategy, leading the way toward a safer future for all road users.
About the Author:
Mike Plata is marketing director at Iteris.
