Smart road technologies enhance vehicle-to-infrastructure safety

Advancements in road technology are transforming infrastructure into intelligent systems designed to enhance driver safety. A key development is Vehicle-to-Infrastructure (V2I) communication, which utilizes cameras, sensors, and 5G networks to monitor traffic, predict incidents like flooding or landslides, and alert drivers to accidents or roadworks in real time.

Recent implementations include the A56 urban highway in Naples, Italy. Additionally, the Spanish Directorate-General for Traffic (DGT) has introduced the DGT 3.0 platform, a connected vehicle system that interconnects mobility actors to provide real-time traffic information.

Other emerging technologies include photosensitive, self-luminous paints that absorb sunlight to illuminate road markings at night, and the integration of solar panels into road surfaces to generate clean energy or provide charging points for electric vehicles.