Thousands of Networked Cars Take to US Roads Networked cars
connected wirelessly can warn drivers about collisions at
intersections. CREDIT: U.S. Department of Transportation Today's
cars don't talk with drivers as KITT did in "Knight Rider," but
the ability to talk wirelessly with other vehicles could prove
even better. Thousands of volunteer Michigan drivers have begun
testing how a vehicle-to-vehicle network can make U.S. roads
safer. In the largest ever real-world experiment, the U.S.
Department of Transportation kicked off a yearlong project
yesterday (Aug. 21) with about 3,000 cars, trucks and buses in
Ann Arbor, Mich. All of the vehicles-carry Wi-Fi technology that
allows them to exchange wireless messages with other vehicles or
traffic devices — a capability that can warn drivers about
possible collisions at blind intersections or vehicles creeping
up in a blind spot. "This cutting-edge technology offers real
promise for improving both the safety and efficiency of our
roads," Transportation Secretary