How Nissan leveraged its driver assist to cut traffic jams

In a groundbreaking pilot project, Nissan has partnered with the Contra Costa Transportation Authority and UC Berkeley to explore how its partially automated driving system, ProPilot Assist, can help alleviate traffic congestion. This initiative, known as 'Cooperative Congestion Management' (CCM), aims to enable vehicles in traffic to communicate with each other to improve overall flow. The research team from Nissan's advanced technology center in Silicon Valley conducted trials on I-680 in the Bay Area, covering approximately 600 miles. By equipping Nissan vehicles with ProPilot Assist, which integrates adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping capabilities, they enhanced the system to allow vehicles to share real-time information about speed and potential hazards with those behind them. The results were impressive, showcasing an 85 percent reduction in hard-braking incidents and a 70 percent decrease in time spent stationary in traffic. However, it is important to clarify that this isn't about platooning, a concept that gained popularity years ago involving groups of autonomously driven trucks traveling in unison. The initial excitement waned as it became clear that human drivers play a crucial role beyond just steering and braking. Further distinguishing this project from traditional Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) communication systems, which have struggled to gain traction, Nissan's approach does not rely on Dedicated Short-Range Communication (DSRC) radios—a technology that has seen little implementation in modern vehicles. In fact, the FCC's recent legal victory to reallocate part of the spectrum once designated for DSRC underscores the challenges faced by the automotive industry in advancing V2V technologies.