A road safety plan that will lead to cars communicating with each other

Perceived Benefits of V2X and Instrumented Infrastructure

• Supporters see V2X as a logical next step for safety tech, like ABS or backup cameras.
• Envisioned uses: cars sharing braking/trajectory data, crosswalks broadcasting “pedestrian present,” smoother intersection timing, reduced “traffic waves,” and potentially higher-speed “e‑lanes” for coordinated vehicles.
• Some argue that instrumented roads are necessary for robust self‑driving, and that “dumb roads, smart cars” is unrealistic at scale.

Skepticism, Security, and Regulatory Capture

• Many fear regulatory capture leading to de‑facto mandatory systems and forced obsolescence of older cars.
• Strong concern that V2X introduces a huge remote attack surface: spoofed braking/stop signals, mass congestion, or targeted criminal misuse (e.g., stopping vehicles for robbery).
• Others doubt cybersecurity can ever be good enough for safety‑critical systems; some advocate zero networking for vehicles or only offline/manual updates.

Privacy, Surveillance, and Control

• V2X is seen as a potential mass‑surveillance tool and “government kill switch” on movement, with insurers and advertisers also likely beneficiaries.
• Worries that vehicles may broadcast sensitive behavior (e.g., speeding), and that infrastructure could shift blame to victims who lack mandated beacons or trackers.

Pedestrians, Cyclists, and Vehicle Design

• Several commenters argue tech resources overwhelmingly favor occupant safety, while pedestrians and cyclists bear rising risk from heavier, taller vehicles (especially pickups/SUVs).
• Proposed remedies: weight‑based taxes or licensing, stricter testing, smaller/slower vehicles, better street design, and physical protection (e.g., concrete-separated bike lanes) rather than more electronics.

Alternative Priorities: Urban Design and Licensing

• Many say the core problem is car‑centric planning, not lack of connectivity.
• Suggested higher‑impact measures: better public transit, denser cities, stricter driver licensing and re‑testing, routine roadworthiness inspections, enforcement of existing laws, and reduced on‑street parking near crossings.

Human Factors and Alarm Fatigue

• Existing ADAS already produce false positives and distracting alerts; adding more V2X warnings may worsen driver overload and complacency.
• Some worry that drivers will overtrust systems, blame tech or victims in crashes, or simply tune out constant beeping.