Cadillac has introduced vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communications in the CTS sedan, allowing the cars to share information that can be used to alert drivers about upcoming potential hazards.

The Cadillac CTS began incorporating V2V communications into the 2017-interim model year cars in production now. The development lays the groundwork for a “connected, safer future,” Cadillac said in a released statement. The V2V system is included as a standard feature on the 2017 CTS in the U.S. and Canada, 

Cadillac’s V2V solution, which uses dedicated short-range communications (DSRC) and GPS, can handle 1,000 messages per second from vehicles up to nearly 1,000 feet away, according to the automaker. 

For example, when a car approaches an urban intersection, the technology scans the vicinity for other vehicles and tracks their positions, directions and speeds. The driver can then be warned of potential hazards that might otherwise be unseen.

“V2V essentially enables the car to sense around corners,” explained Richard Brekus, Cadillac global director of product strategy. “Connecting vehicles through V2V holds tremendous potential, as this technology enables the car to acquire and analyze information outside the bounds of the driver’s field of vision. As an early mover, we look forward to seeing its benefit multiply as more V2V-equipped vehicles hit the road.”

V2V-enabled data alerts drivers of potentially hazardous situations ahead, giving them additional time to react. Common hazardous scenarios that prompt alerts are hard braking, slippery conditions and disabled vehicles. Through the infotainment system, drivers can customize alerts to display in the instrument cluster and available head-up display.

Only vehicles equipped with compatible V2V systems communicate with one another. Multiple V2V-equipped vehicles create an ad hoc wireless network that allows for the transfer of information without relying on sight lines, good weather conditions or cellular coverage.

The V2V system in the 2017 CTS operates on the 5.9 GHz spectrum allocated by the Federal Communications Commission. The system complements a suite of available active safety features. The CTS offers such features such as adaptive cruise control with full-speed range, automatic front and rear braking, forward collision mitigation, lane keep assist and rear cross traffic alert.