General Motors announced it has demonstrated a fleet of cars that use vehicle-to-vehicle communication (V2V). GM says a vehicle using the technology can detect the position and movement of other vehicles up to a quarter of a mile away. V2V allows drivers to detect other vehicles in blind spots, stopped ahead on the highway but hidden from view, around a blind corner or blocked by other vehicles. The vehicles can anticipate and react to changing driving situations and then instantly warn the drivers with chimes, visual icons and seat vibrations. If the driver doesn’t respond to the alerts, the car can bring itself to a safe stop, avoiding a collision. “Driving is a very complex task. Knowing where the other guy is and where he’s headed can be as critical as being in control of your own vehicle,” said Larry Burns, GM vice president Research & Development and Planning. “V2V technology gives drivers a sixth sense to know what’s going on around them to help avoid accidents and improve traffic flow.” During the demonstration, GM showed how V2V technology alerts the driver to vehicles in blind spots with a steady amber light in the side mirror. If the turn signal is activated, a flashing amber light and gentle seat vibration on the side notifies the driver of a potentially dangerous situation. GM said it also showed how V2V can monitor messages from other drivers ahead who are experiencing congestion or a pile-up. It also can use rear lights to warn the other driver when the approaching vehicle is moving very quickly and a rear-end collision is imminent.