THEA CV Pilot Tests Lifesaving Applications at American Center for Mobility

The Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority Connected Vehicle Pilot (THEA CV Pilot) is a $22 million project jointly funded by the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT). The THEA CV Pilot deployed seven connected vehicle applications in collaboration with auto manufacturers: Honda, Hyundai, and Toyota at the American Center for Mobility in Ann Arbor, Michigan at the end of May 2021. 

Now that the THEA CV Pilot entered a new phase, our team set out to prove the efficiency of integrated connected vehicle technology into the cars coming off the line and how this technology can improve driver and pedestrian safety. 

At the testing center, the THEA CV Pilot team tested the following applications:

• Forward Collision Warning (FCW)
• Emergency Electronic Brake Light (EEBL)
• Intersection Movement Assist (IMA)
• Wrong Way Entry (WWE)
• Pedestrian Collision Warning (PCW)
• End or Ramp Deceleration Warning (ERDW)
• Red Light Violation Warning (RLVW)

For example, during the testing, a driver would receive a wrong way entry warning every time a person drove in the wrong direction. This application is one of the most crucial alerts that can help prevent fatal crashes. All seven applications contribute significantly to accelerating the implementation of Vision Zero as a part of THEA’s commitment to make Tampa a safer and smarter city to live in. 

Working in collaboration with auto manufacturers allows us to advance technology that makes driving safer and commute time shorter. Our THEA CV Pilot aims to one day eradicate crashes all together increasing travel time predictability and traffic flow.