V2P

V2P, or vehicle-to-pedestrian, is a set of technologies that enables direct communication between motor vehicles and pedestrians or their devices to improve road safety. V2P systems involve pedestrians carrying devices such as smartphones or wearables, or infrastructure disseminating alerts, so that vehicles and people share situational information in near real time.

In operation, V2P complements traditional sensing. Vehicles may send warnings to nearby pedestrians’ devices when a collision risk is detected, while pedestrians’ devices or apps can transmit presence, direction and speed data to approaching vehicles. Warnings can appear as audible alerts, on-device notifications, or vehicle-based messages shown in the driver’s or pedestrian’s display. The aim is to reduce pedestrian-vehicle crashes, especially at crosswalks and in busy urban areas.

Technologies and standards include C-V2X (cellular vehicle-to-everything) and legacy DSRC (IEEE 802.11p). Smartphone-based V2P often relies on Bluetooth, Wi‑Fi, or cellular connectivity, sometimes in combination with dedicated apps. Because adoption varies and privacy is a concern, V2P designs emphasize lightweight data exchange, user consent, and robust security to prevent spoofing or misuse.

Status and outlook: V2P remains largely in research projects and pilot deployments within the broader V2X ecosystem. Proponents cite safety benefits for pedestrians, but challenges include device penetration, interoperability among manufacturers, data privacy, and ensuring reliable performance across environments. Widespread deployment depends on standardized interfaces and integration with vehicle safety systems and urban infrastructure.