EU opens the way for 'cars that talk'

BRUSSELS: Cars stuck in traffic or on slippery roads will be able to communicate with other vehicles in a bid to cut down on traffic jams and road accidents, under European Commission plans unveiled on Tuesday.

"Today's commission decision is a decisive step towards meeting the European goal of reducing road accidents," said EU Telecoms Commissioner Viviane Reding.

Getting critical messages through quickly and accurately is a must for road safety. She added that 24 per cent of driving time in Europe was pent in traffic jams that could cost the EU economy 80 billion euros by 2010.
"So clearly saving time through smart vehicles communications systems means saving money."

The commission believes that the agreed communication system could also save lives. In 2006, more than 42,000 people died and more than 1.6 million were injured in road accidents in the European Union.

The commission's decision was also aimed at "spurring public funding in essential roadside infrastructure," the EU's executive arm said in a statement.

Commission spokesman Martin Selmayr stressed that the decision gave the green light for industry to set up the systems in new cars. But there would be no obligation on European road users to obtain or use the new technology when it became available.