About IntelliDriveSM

IntelliDriveSM Frequently Asked Questions

How could the surface transportation system change as a result of IntelliDriveSM implementation?

IntelliDriveSM research is being sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) to leverage the potentially transformative capabilities of wireless technology to make surface transportation safer, smarter and greener. If successful, IntelliDriveSM will ultimately enhance the mobility and quality of life of all Americans, while helping to reduce the environmental impact of surface transportation.

The IntelliDriveSM vision is to transform surface transportation systems to create a future where:

  • Highway crashes and their tragic consequences are significantly reduced.
  • Traffic managers have data to accurately assess transportation system performance and actively manage the system in real time, for optimal performance.
  • Travelers have continual access to accurate travel time information about mode choice and route options, and the potential environmental impacts of their choices.
  • Vehicles can “talk” to traffic signals to eliminate unnecessary stops, and help drivers operate vehicles for optimal fuel-efficiency.

Why is IntelliDriveSM needed?

IntelliDriveSM aims to tackle some of the biggest challenges in the surface transportation industry:

    • Safety Challenges
    • Mobility Challenges, and
    • Environmental Challenges.
  • Safety - In 2008, approximately 37,000 persons died and 2.35 million were injured on U.S. roadways in approximately 5.8 million crashes1. Highway crashes take a terrible toll on individuals, families, and society as a whole. Although we don't usually think of it that way, improving highway safety is a public health issue: crashes are the leading cause of death for ages 3 through 342. IntelliDriveSM provides the tools to make transformational improvements in safety - to significantly reduce the number of lives lost each year through IntelliDriveSM crash prevention applications.
  • Mobility - According to the Texas Transportation Institute (TTI), U.S. highway users wasted 4.2 billion hours a year stuck in traffic in 2007 – nearly one full work week (or vacation week) for every traveler. The overall cost (based on wasted fuel and lost productivity) reached $87.2 billion – more than $750 for every U.S. traveler3. IntelliDriveSM mobility applications will enable system users and system operators to make choices that reduce travel delay.
  • Environment - The total amount of fuel wasted in traffic congestion topped 2.8 billion gallons in 2007, according to TTI – three weeks' worth of gas for every traveler4. IntelliDriveSM environmental applications will enable system users and system operators to make choices that reduce the environmental impacts of surface transportation travel.

How long before the USDOT's IntelliDriveSM research program will have results that are ready for implemention?

IntelliDriveSM systems and applications are based on existing wireless communications and information technologies. USDOT's current IntelliDriveSM research is focused on refining these technologies and testing their use in surface transportation; developing IntelliDriveSM safety, mobility, and environmental applications; determining actual benefits in the field; and developing consensus standards that will ensure the interoperability of IntelliDriveSM applications and system components.

DOT's goal is to complete the majority of this research by 2013. At that time, we hope that those aspects of the program that have proven sufficiently beneficial will be ready to be carried out. In 2013, USDOT also intends to decide whether the applications show enough promise to merit deployment, and to determine whether regulation or other government action will be needed to speed deployment of potentially lifesaving applications.

What are the key challenges in developing IntelliDriveSM? How are they being addressed?

The key strategic challenges at this stage of IntelliDriveSM development include: (1) Resolving remaining technical challenges and testing and determining the actual benefits of applications; (2) Determining whether overall benefits are great enough to warrant deployment, and, if so, how the systems would be deployed; and (3) Addressing public acceptance issues such as maintaining user privacy, and whether the systems in vehicles are effective, safe, and easy to use. Understanding the infrastructure needs and how those could be addressed are core aspects of the research program.

The USDOT and its public and private partners are currently developing strategic plans to address these challenges.

  • The USDOT Strategic Plan for IntelliDriveSM focuses on technical, non-technical, and safety (including human factors), mobility, and environmental applications area research.
  • The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials has also developed an IntelliDriveSM strategic plan.

What are potential performance metrics for IntelliDriveSM?

  • Reduction in highway fatalities;
  • Reduction in traffic incident-related travel delay;
  • Reduction in vehicle emissions.

Is IntelliDriveSM trademarked?

The US Department of Transportation (USDOT) has a service mark for words, letters and design related to IntelliDriveSM.

Who can use the new name and brand and in what capacity?

Requests for use should be addressed to [email protected].
IntelliDriveSM Service Mark and Logo Usage Requirements

  1. Traffic Safety Facts 2008 Early Edition (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration [NHTSA], 2009)
  2. "Motor Vehicle Traffic Crashes as a Leading Cause of Death in the United States, 2006", Traffic Safety Facts Research Note (NHTSA , October 2009)
  3. 2009 Urban Mobility Report (Texas Transportation Institute, July 2009)
  4. 2009 Urban Mobility Report (Texas Transportation Institute, July 2009)
IntelliDrive Service Mark and Logo Usage Requirements | HMTL