Safer roads or faster movie downloads? Let's choose DSRC spectrum's use wisely
Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • Automotive News Canada
  • Automotive News Europe
  • Automotive News China
  • Automobilwoche
AN-LOGO-BLUE
Subscribe
  • Subscribe
  • Account
  • login
  • HOME
  • NEWS
    • Dealers
    • Automakers & Suppliers
    • News by Brand
    • Cars & Concepts
    • Coronavirus Coverage
    • China
    • Shift
    • Mobility Report
    • Special Reports
    • Digital Edition Archive
    • This Week's Issue
    • Working online to book COVID shots, office manager Billie Jean Pellet “typed so fast smoke came off the keyboard,” said dealer Earl Stewart.
      Dealership team hunts for vaccine
      Hope stalls for rebound in European auto sales
      Dana net income falls 53% in Q4
      Daimler hq Stuttgart web.jpg
      Daimler expects to recover production lost to chip shortage amid bullish outlook for 2021
    • Geely to create separate EV business unit
      Valeo, Faurecia outperform China market in 2020
      Hyundai to build hybrid, electrified commercial vehicles in Ziyang
      Daimler in silver
      Daimler CEO puts struggling EV brand Denza on notice
    • Detroit Aerial Panorama during sunset
      Developing future workers to fuel growth in mobility
      Getting around in Las Vegas often involves long waits for a crowded monorail ride, below, or taking escalators up and down to cross elevated pedestrian walkways along the Strip.
      Las Vegas offers best and worst in transportation challenges
      In pandemic environment, RV industry ‘roaring back'
      Where is transportation headed?
    • Electric vehicle recharger
      Consumers on the fence about EVs, J.D. Power says
      Joby
      Toyota's air taxi partner Joby to go public in $6.6 billion deal; firm hires Ford exec
      The Fisker Ocean electric vehicle on display
      Fisker to form EV partnership with Foxconn
      Motional moment: Driverless testing begins in Las Vegas
    • Elon Musk interview
      Tesla’s Model Y, on sale since March, is a showcase of EV technologies competitors will benchmark.
      Technologies of Electrification
      Cadillac’s Lyriq EV will be unveiled Aug. 6.
      Future Product Pipeline
      A CALL TO ACTION
    • Dealer lots could stay emptier long term
      Toshihiro Mibe is a veteran powertrain engineer, which has put him in close contact with the challenges Honda is facing.
      A return to tradition in Honda's new CEO
      Va. dealers pivot on emissions rules
      By hook or by crook: Hyundai, Kia system goes down
    • Access F&I
    • Fixed Ops Journal
    • Marketing
    • Used Cars
    • Retail Technology
    • Sales
    • Best Practices
    • Dealership Buy/Sell
    • NADA
    • NADA Show
    • Automakers
    • Manufacturing
    • Suppliers
    • Regulations & Safety
    • Executives
    • Talk From The Top
    • Leading Women Network
    • Guide to Economic Development
    • PACE Awards
    • Management Briefing Seminars
    • World Congress
    • Aston Martin
    • BMW
      • Mini
      • Rolls-Royce
    • Daimler
      • Mercedes Benz
      • Smart
    • Fiat Chrysler
      • Alfa Romeo
      • Chrysler
      • Dodge
      • Ferrari
      • Fiat
      • Jeep
      • Maserati
      • Ram
    • Ford
      • Lincoln
    • General Motors
      • Buick
      • Cadillac
      • Chevrolet
      • GMC
      • Holden
    • Honda
      • Acura
    • Hyundai
      • Genesis
      • Kia
    • Mazda
    • McLaren
    • Mitsubishi
    • Nissan
      • Infiniti
    • PSA
      • Citroen
      • Opel
      • Peugeot
    • Renault
    • Subaru
    • Suzuki
    • Tata
      • Jaguar
      • Land Rover
    • Tesla
    • Toyota
      • Lexus
    • Volkswagen
      • Audi
      • Bentley
      • Bugatti
      • Lamborghini
      • Porsche
      • Seat
      • Skoda
    • Volvo
    • (Discontinued Brands)
    • Virtual reveals (Sponsored)
      • MITSUBISHI: 2022 Outlander
      • NISSAN: 2022 Pathfinder and 2022 Frontier
      • GENESIS: 2021 GV80
      • KIA: 2021 K5
      • LEXUS: 2021 IS
      • NISSAN: 2021 Rogue
      • TOYOTA: 2021 Venza and 2021 Sienna
    • Auto Shows
      • Detroit Auto Show
      • New York Auto Show
      • Los Angeles Auto Show
      • Chicago Auto Show
      • Geneva Auto Show
      • Paris Auto Show
      • Frankfurt Auto Show
      • Toronto Auto Show
      • Tokyo Auto Show
      • Shanghai Auto Show
      • Beijing Auto Show
    • Future Product Pipeline
    • Photo Galleries
    • Car Cutaways
    • Design
  • OPINION
    • Blogs
    • Cartoons
    • Keith Crain
    • Automotive Views with Jason Stein
    • Columnists
    • China Commentary
    • Editorials
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Send us a Letter
    • Gerry McGovern is right man to steer Jaguar reinvention
      Forget the Ford GT; Moray Callum's biggest hit is the aluminum F-150
      Nikon turns lens on auto factory, build quality
      Bosch_information_domain_computer web.jpg
      Bosch, Continental battle to supply the brain of the connected car
    • view gallery
      1 photos
      Chip Shortage
      view gallery
      8 photos
      Leo Michael Cartoons - Q1 2021
      Dealers hiring from hospitality sector
      view gallery
      1 photos
      Hospitality Hires
      view gallery
      1 photos
      No ICE, Please
    • Shifting gears away from the stick shift
      SEMA still a wonderful circus
      Penske still has plenty of races to win
      Ford's turn in the hot seat
    • February 23, 2021 | Reliability continues to soar
      February 16, 2021 | Apple looks to take bite out of automotive
      February 9, 2021 | ‘Super’ opportunity for automakers
      February 2, 2021 | GM is all-in on EVs but will consumers follow?
    • John DeMarco
      How to manage a downturn? Clues are in the data
      Cam Hitchcock
      Benefits remain clear for on-site used-car auctions
      Dave Versical
      The ad that has dealers fighting mad
      Dan Shine
      Optimism for the future despite crisis, change
    • Shanghai hints at how Chinese cities will pursue electrification
      How Tesla, GM transformed EV market in 2020
      Is sales recovery nearing an end?
      Beijing's uphill battle to boost EV sales
    • Taiwan Semicon microchips BB web.jpg
      Chip shortage shows need for new thinking
      Digital demands squeeze smaller auto retailers
      President Joe Biden’s move to electrify all government vehicles could push forward charging infrastructure development.
      Dealers aren't wrong to be wary of EV hype
      Economy needs assistance, but dealers do not
    • Buying EV without dealer is just easier
      Dealers are right to worry about EVs
      GM's move to EVs is move for stability
      Tundra engine may not be up to the job
  • DATA CENTER
  • VIDEO
    • AutoNews Now
    • First Shift
    • Special Video Reports
    • Weekend Drive
    • AutoNews Now: Most buyers still undecided on EVs, J.D. Power finds
      AutoNews Now: Biden tackles chip shortage with lawmakers, order
      AutoNews Now: Kia aims to disrupt 'staid' minivan segment with Carnival
      AutoNews Now: Cherokee Nation to Jeep: Stop using our name
    • First Shift: Ford's Farley: 'We need to bring battery production to the U.S.'
      First Shift: Hyundai to replace EV batteries in $900M recall
      First Shift: Hyundai starts next-gen EV push with Ioniq 5 crossover
      First Shift: Ford idles two plants for weather-related parts shortages
    • COVID, chips and checks: Sales headwinds and tailwinds for 2021
      N.J. dealer helps position peers for ‘electric revolution’
      DCH Millburn Audi
      'Finding the diamond in the rough': How 2020's No. 1 dealership retains talent
      Don Johnson Motors
      'Distinctive culture' cuts turnover, carves career paths at Wis. dealership group
    • Why the pickup is the auto industry's 'battleground'
      Carlos Ghosn's quest to restore his reputation
      Why Ford must execute to avoid 'deep trouble'
      Why Honda is 'locked and loaded' for 2020
  • EVENTS & AWARDS
    • Events
    • Awards
    • Congress Conversations
    • Retail Forum: NADA
    • Canada Congress
    • Europe Congress Conversations
    • Leading Women Conference
    • Fixed Ops Journal Forum
    • ANE Shift
    • Shift: Mobility at a Crossroads
    • Shift: The Future of Mobility (CES)
    • 100 Leading Women
    • 40 Under 40 Retail
    • All-Stars
    • Best Dealerships To Work For
    • PACE Program
    • Rising Stars
    • Europe Rising Stars
  • JOBS
  • AN Solutions
  • +MORE
    • Leading Women Network
    • Podcasts
    • Webinars
    • In the Driver's Seat
    • Publishing Partners
    • Classifieds
    • Companies on the Move
    • People on the Move
    • Newsletters
    • Contact Us
    • Media Kit
    • RSS Feeds
    • Shift: A Podcast About Mobility
    • Special Reports Podcasts
    • Daily Drive Podcasts
    • AAM
    • Gentex
    • Reputation.com
    • Ricardo
    • Ricardo
    • Allstate: Want more from your F&I?
    • Ally: Navigating the future of automotive retailing
    • Amazon Web Services: Any place, any time, any channel
    • Amazon Web Services: The power of the cloud
    • Amazon Web Services: Universal translator: Harnessing sensor data to build better automotive software
    • Epic Games: Transforming the auto industry with digital assets
    • FTI Consulting: Crisis as a catalyst for change
    • Google: 5 trends shaping the auto industry's approach to a new normal
    • IHS Markit: Automotive loyalty in the wake of the COVID-19 recession
    • IHS Markit: Autonomous vehicles: Automotive and transportation disruption
    • IHS Markit: COVID-19: The future mobility delusion
    • Level5: 2020 Automotive E-Commerce Report
    • Naked Lime: Bring social reputation together as part of big-picture marketing
    • Wells Fargo Auto: Switching gears from LIBOR to SOFR
    • Ally: Do It Right
    • DealerSocket
    • Deloitte: Cyber everywhere: Preparing for automotive safety in the face of cyber threats
    • Facebook: The road to a zero-friction future
    • Guide To Economic Development
    • PayPal Credit: How consumer financing helps drive sales for online auto parts retailers
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. Commentary
November 04, 2019 12:00 AM

Safer roads or faster movie downloads? Let's choose wisely

Gregory Winfree and Larry Head
Gregory Winfree and Larry Head
Winfree is the agency director of the Texas A&M Transportation Institute and a former U.S. assistant secretary of transportation. Head is a professor of systems and industrial engineering at the University of Arizona.
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print

    The next big decision may have nothing to do with immigration or health care. Instead, it may be about either faster movie downloads or safer roads.

    The Federal Communications Commission is reconsidering whether an important slice of the radio spectrum should be offered for expanded Wi-Fi use, or if it should be retained for its originally intended purpose — to allow cars to talk to each other and share vital safety messages that promise to prevent vehicle crashes. Congress set aside part of the 5.9 GHz domain in 1999 to enable intelligent transportation systems using dedicated short-range communication, or DSRC. However, the wireless industry wants the band for augmented entertainment purposes, leaving safety interests to rely upon nascent 5G or other unproven spectrum-sharing technologies.

    There is no room for second-guessing the demonstrated life-saving purpose and potential of DSRC. Three points make this case a compelling one.

    1. DSRC already has been applied in hundreds of locales to test its efficacy for uses including traffic signal prioritization and traffic management. Experiments in Michigan, Wyoming, New York, Arizona, Florida and other states are already proving DSRC's virtues. In fact, a national signal phase and timing, or SPaT, challenge has been issued to achieve deployment of DSRC infrastructure with SPaT broadcasts in at least one corridor or network in each of the 50 states by January 2020, with 26 states currently committed. And for anyone saying that 20 years is too long for observation and trial efforts, let's remember that cellphone development involved more than 20 years of continued refinement before reaching its current level of reliability and quality.

    2. DSRC is a mature technology capable of transmitting safety messages about things such as blind spots and collision warnings 10 times per second, meaning it can prevent crashes beginning immediately upon deployment. While 5G holds promise and should be put to use when fully tested and available, it is at least three or more years out from being worthy as a DSRC surrogate.

    3. A Rand Corp. study in 2018 cited that opening the 5.9 GHz band to expanded Wi-Fi use would add between $60 billion and $106 billion to U.S. gross domestic product annually. Such an estimate of economic benefit is certainly huge, but it pales in comparison to the $800 billion cost assigned to traffic crashes every year by NHTSA — an immense toll that takes into account medical costs and lost productivity. In the cost/benefit debate, the numbers simply don't add up in favor of Wi-Fi.

    By rolling out its self-driving car in 2014, Google stoked widespread fascination and excitement about what great things are possible with autonomous vehicles. And that's a good thing. But to fully realize the benefits of autonomous travel requires connectivity. And reliable, high-speed connectivity requires DSRC — or an equivalent that is ready and available today.

    The auto industry and government agencies have made immense strides in safety since the first Model T's rolled out a century ago. Airbags and automatic braking have made cars more secure. Guardrails and asphalt technology have made roads safer. Even so, 40,000 Americans die in crashes every year.

    Humans require two or three seconds to respond to a traffic hazard. DSRC can send 20 or 30 safety messages in the same time. Putting DSRC to work tomorrow would help us reduce road deaths by more than half. Toyota and General Motors primed the pump in 2018 by announcing their intent to include DSRC-enabled systems on their cars, but the industry recently has hit the pause button because of a lack of government commitment to preserve the radio spectrum for DSRC application. Understandably, automakers don't want to be left with the modern-day equivalent of warehouses full of Betamax video recorders.

    Let's move forward to validate the nation's smart and successful public investment in DSRC and remove the uncertainty that hinders continued investment by the global auto industry. Human lives are riding on this big decision.

    RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
    Benefits remain clear for on-site used-car auctions
    Letter
    to the
    Editor

     

     

    Send us a letter

    Have an opinion about this story? Click here to submit a Letter to the Editor, and we may publish it in print.

    Recommended for You
    Benefits remain clear for on-site used-car auctions
    Benefits remain clear for on-site used-car auctions
    The ad that has dealers fighting mad
    The ad that has dealers fighting mad
    How to manage a downturn? Clues are in the data
    How to manage a downturn? Clues are in the data
    Want more from your F&I?
    Sponsored Content: Want more from your F&I?
    Sign up for free newsletters
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please verify captcha.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    See more newsletter options at autonews.com/newsletters.

    You can unsubscribe at any time through links in these emails. For more information, see our Privacy Policy.

    Digital Edition
    Automotive News 2-22-21
    THIS WEEK'S EDITION
    See our archive
    Fixed Ops Journal
    Fixed Ops Journal 2-8-21
    Read the issue
    See our archive
    AUTOMOTIVE VIEWS NEWSLETTER: Sign up for our weekly showcase of opinions, insights, ideas and thought leadership from the Automotive News team plus readers and contributors from around the industry.
    FIRST SHIFT WITH JENNIFER VUONG: Sign up for our morning newscast and get the news you need to start your day in a quick 4-minute video.
    Get Free Newsletters

    Sign up and get the best of Automotive News delivered straight to your email inbox, free of charge. Choose your news – we will deliver.

    Subscribe Today

    Get 24/7 access to in-depth, authoritative coverage of the auto industry from a global team of reporters and editors covering the news that’s vital to your business.

    Subscribe Now
    Connect With Us
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter

    Our mission

    The Automotive News mission is to be the primary source of industry news, data and understanding for the industry's decision-makers interested in North America.

    AN-LOGO-BLUE
    Contact Us

    1155 Gratiot Avenue
    Detroit, Michigan
    48207-2997

    (877) 812-1584

    Email us

    Automotive News
    ISSN 0005-1551 (print)
    ISSN 1557-7686 (online)

    Fixed Ops Journal
    ISSN 2576-1064 (print)
    ISSN 2576-1072 (online)

    Resources
    • About us
    • Contact Us
    • Media Kit
    • Subscribe
    • Manage your account
    • Reprints
    • Ad Choices Ad Choices
    • Sitemap
    Legal
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    Automotive News
    Copyright © 1996-2021. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • HOME
    • NEWS
      • Dealers
        • Access F&I
        • Fixed Ops Journal
        • Marketing
        • Used Cars
        • Retail Technology
        • Sales
        • Best Practices
        • Dealership Buy/Sell
        • NADA
        • NADA Show
      • Automakers & Suppliers
        • Automakers
        • Manufacturing
        • Suppliers
        • Regulations & Safety
        • Executives
        • Talk From The Top
        • Leading Women Network
        • Guide to Economic Development
        • PACE Awards
        • Management Briefing Seminars
        • World Congress
      • News by Brand
        • Aston Martin
        • BMW
          • Mini
          • Rolls-Royce
        • Daimler
          • Mercedes Benz
          • Smart
        • Fiat Chrysler
          • Alfa Romeo
          • Chrysler
          • Dodge
          • Ferrari
          • Fiat
          • Jeep
          • Maserati
          • Ram
        • Ford
          • Lincoln
        • General Motors
          • Buick
          • Cadillac
          • Chevrolet
          • GMC
          • Holden
        • Honda
          • Acura
        • Hyundai
          • Genesis
          • Kia
        • Mazda
        • McLaren
        • Mitsubishi
        • Nissan
          • Infiniti
        • PSA
          • Citroen
          • Opel
          • Peugeot
        • Renault
        • Subaru
        • Suzuki
        • Tata
          • Jaguar
          • Land Rover
        • Tesla
        • Toyota
          • Lexus
        • Volkswagen
          • Audi
          • Bentley
          • Bugatti
          • Lamborghini
          • Porsche
          • Seat
          • Skoda
        • Volvo
        • (Discontinued Brands)
      • Cars & Concepts
        • Virtual reveals (Sponsored)
          • MITSUBISHI: 2022 Outlander
          • NISSAN: 2022 Pathfinder and 2022 Frontier
          • GENESIS: 2021 GV80
          • KIA: 2021 K5
          • LEXUS: 2021 IS
          • NISSAN: 2021 Rogue
          • TOYOTA: 2021 Venza and 2021 Sienna
        • Auto Shows
          • Detroit Auto Show
          • New York Auto Show
          • Los Angeles Auto Show
          • Chicago Auto Show
          • Geneva Auto Show
          • Paris Auto Show
          • Frankfurt Auto Show
          • Toronto Auto Show
          • Tokyo Auto Show
          • Shanghai Auto Show
          • Beijing Auto Show
        • Future Product Pipeline
        • Photo Galleries
        • Car Cutaways
        • Design
      • Coronavirus Coverage
      • China
      • Shift
      • Mobility Report
      • Special Reports
      • Digital Edition Archive
      • This Week's Issue
    • OPINION
      • Blogs
      • Cartoons
      • Keith Crain
      • Automotive Views with Jason Stein
      • Columnists
      • China Commentary
      • Editorials
      • Letters to the Editor
      • Send us a Letter
    • DATA CENTER
    • VIDEO
      • AutoNews Now
      • First Shift
      • Special Video Reports
      • Weekend Drive
    • EVENTS & AWARDS
      • Events
        • Congress Conversations
        • Retail Forum: NADA
        • Canada Congress
        • Europe Congress Conversations
        • Leading Women Conference
        • Fixed Ops Journal Forum
        • ANE Shift
        • Shift: Mobility at a Crossroads
        • Shift: The Future of Mobility (CES)
      • Awards
        • 100 Leading Women
        • 40 Under 40 Retail
        • All-Stars
        • Best Dealerships To Work For
        • PACE Program
        • Rising Stars
        • Europe Rising Stars
    • JOBS
    • AN Solutions
    • +MORE
      • Leading Women Network
      • Podcasts
        • Shift: A Podcast About Mobility
        • Special Reports Podcasts
        • Daily Drive Podcasts
      • Webinars
      • In the Driver's Seat
        • AAM
        • Gentex
        • Reputation.com
        • Ricardo
        • Ricardo
      • Publishing Partners
        • Allstate: Want more from your F&I?
        • Ally: Navigating the future of automotive retailing
        • Amazon Web Services: Any place, any time, any channel
        • Amazon Web Services: The power of the cloud
        • Amazon Web Services: Universal translator: Harnessing sensor data to build better automotive software
        • Epic Games: Transforming the auto industry with digital assets
        • FTI Consulting: Crisis as a catalyst for change
        • Google: 5 trends shaping the auto industry's approach to a new normal
        • IHS Markit: Automotive loyalty in the wake of the COVID-19 recession
        • IHS Markit: Autonomous vehicles: Automotive and transportation disruption
        • IHS Markit: COVID-19: The future mobility delusion
        • Level5: 2020 Automotive E-Commerce Report
        • Naked Lime: Bring social reputation together as part of big-picture marketing
        • Wells Fargo Auto: Switching gears from LIBOR to SOFR
        • Ally: Do It Right
        • DealerSocket
        • Deloitte: Cyber everywhere: Preparing for automotive safety in the face of cyber threats
        • Facebook: The road to a zero-friction future
        • Guide To Economic Development
        • PayPal Credit: How consumer financing helps drive sales for online auto parts retailers
      • Classifieds
      • Companies on the Move
      • People on the Move
      • Newsletters
      • Contact Us
      • Media Kit
      • RSS Feeds