Stellantis Introduces Car-to-Car Alert System
Stellantis, the parent company of brands like Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram, is rolling out a new car-to-car alert system. This system is designed to warn drivers about disabled vehicles ahead, potentially preventing accidents and improving road safety.
The foundation of this new system is the existing Emergency Vehicle Alert System (EVAS). Stellantis has already equipped around 1.8 million vehicles, sold since 2018, with this capability. The EVAS uses the Uconnect infotainment system to inform drivers about nearby emergency vehicles that are connected to HAAS Alert’s Safety Cloud.
Now, the company is expanding the EVAS to include alerts for disabled vehicles.
The system functions by sending and receiving alerts between vehicles equipped with the technology. When a vehicle experiences a breakdown or an accident, the Hazard Enhanced Location Protocol (HELP) is automatically or manually activated. This sends an alert to other cars in the vicinity, providing drivers with a critical warning.
Drivers can receive alerts up to 20 seconds before they reach the disabled vehicle, giving them enough time to react and avoid potential hazards. The technology partner, Emergency Safety Solutions Inc., notes that breakdown situations cause injuries and fatalities each year.
The company is also testing the HELP feature’s ability to be triggered manually when an accident or tire blowout occurs. A decision on the HELP feature rollout will be made within three to six months. If approved, existing compatible Uconnect systems will receive the update through an over-the-air software update.
Stellantis’s head of global software business management emphasized their commitment to driver safety, stating the company’s responsibility to ensure customers’ safe return home, providing comfort, and peace of mind through connected services.
Uconnect also offers stolen vehicle tracking, virtual driver assistance, and remote start as subscription services. The system provides peace of mind by preventing last-second reactions to vehicles parked on the side of the road.
This advancement showcases Stellantis’s dedication to integrating smart technology to enhance road safety.
