General Motors Co. is testing a safety feature in Macomb County to warn drivers that traffic signals are about to turn red. And in what is believed to be a first “connected” construction zone in the nation, test cars on a section of Interstate 75 in Oakland County can read high-tech roadside bar codes which communicate what lanes are closed up ahead. Even the reflective strips on workers’ safety vests contain information that identifies them as people instead of traffic barrels.

IF YOU'RE A human driver, road construction probably annoys you: one more thing clogging traffic on your way home. If you're a self-driving car, though, it can be devastating. Work zones flummox the future rulers of our roads because they override or obliterate the sturdy markers by which the vehicles are taught to navigate. With no warning, they enter a world where cones trump double yellow lines, bollards replace curbs, and construction worker hand signals outweigh traffic lights.

To achieve the maximum benefit, the Vehicle-to-Infrastructure Deployment Guidance and Products requires a thorough read of this material (i.e., the “guidance”) and the full use of the associated products (i.e., the “products” in V2I Products). In addition, this document has numerous references to sources of information (see References), including relevant research articles, guidance materials, codification of general and permanent rules or laws, and pertinent websites. Some of the websites contain invaluable products that should be bookmarked or saved for future reference. The references are supplemental information that will broaden the reader’s knowledge. At the same time, they ensure this document remains concise without providing an exhaustive discussion on a given topic. Use of the guidance, products, and references can facilitate a smooth and effective V2I deployment.