Real-time communication is now possible between a vehicle and roadside stations, and from one vehicle to another, according to a June 15 report from SEMA, the Specialty Equipment Marketing Association. For the first time, DaimlerChrysler presented a driving demonstration of broadband car-to-car communication between a Mercedes-Benz E-Class and a Dodge Durango this month at the DaimlerChrysler Innovation Symposium in Palo Alto, Calif. The system is based on Dedicated Short-Range Communication (DSRC) technology, which makes real-time communication possible between a vehicle and roadside stations, and from one vehicle to another. Car-to-car communication will allow vehicles to: --Pass information such as congestion, fog, ice or an accident on to all road users in the immediate vicinity of the danger spot. --Communicate directly with one another, also making it possible to transmit braking signals back over several vehicles, giving drivers early warning that they might soon have to brake. --Transmit other data such as digital music, movies or even map updates for the on-board navigation system into the vehicle. DaimlerChrysler is working with the Federal DOT and several states (Michigan, California and Florida) to prepare demonstration tests of vehicle-to-infrastructure communications. Working through the Vehicle Infrastructure Integration (VII) initiative, DOT is expected to select a set of locations for a series of progressively more integrated tests from 2005 through the end of the decade.