India’s telecom regulator on Thursday released a consultation paper on how to roll out an automated wireless vehicle communications system that can potentially alert drivers of a crash on the road ahead or catch traffic violations. TRAI’s proposal marks a significant shift from conventional safety features such as airbags and seatbelts toward proactive digital systems. (Sunil Ghosh/HT Photo) The consultation paper by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication formally launches the regulatory process for a technology that allows vehicles to wirelessly exchange data with one another, traffic signals and cellular networks in real time. TRAI regulates the sector that oversees any type of wireless communication. The technology will be enabled by on-board wireless communication devices and can allow features for safety — such as by warning drivers of an impending collision or a vehicle losing control ahead, and traffic efficiency through optimising signal timing and enabling dynamic route management to cut congestion and fuel use. For the everyday Indian driver and future car buyer, the proposal marks a significant shift …