The Commission extends the authorisation to use the 24 GHz radio frequency band for short-range anti-collision radar in cars
The European Commission published the decision to facilitate deployment of car radar system to boost road safety. This decision extends the authorisation to use the 24 GHz radio frequency band for short-range anti-collision radar in cars until 2018. Only 0.05 % of cars in Europe are equipped with such radar systems, which currently all use the 24 GHz band, and are mainly in luxury car.
The decision the authorisation to use the 24 GHz radio frequency band for short-range anti-collision radar in cars will apply until 2018. The measure will mainly affect luxury cars which means only 0.05% of cars in Europe. Manufacturers have encountered difficulties in developing systems using the 79 GHz band, so that technology in the 79 GHz band has not developed as fast as initially predicted by the industry. As a result, 79 GHz-technology is not mature enough for commercial deployment in cars by 2013, when the use of the 24 GHz band by these systems had been due to end.
Automotive short-range radar (SRR) systems are similar to current parking assistants but with a longer range. SRR systems can constantly monitor the area around a vehicle to detect obstacles, such as other vehicles, pedestrians or static obstacles. Moreover, such radar systems could help to reach the EU’s policy goal of halving the number of deaths on the road, if widely deployed. They aim to warn drivers of potential collisions and alert them to pedestrians or obstacles in blind spots. Depending on the specific application, SRR also have the potential to automatically trigger active safety measures, such as pre-tensioning of seat belts or automated braking to avoid or mitigate collisions.
This decision is applied in the framework of the radio spectrum coordination to ensure that spectrum is used efficiently and that devices using radio spectrum operate effectively throughout the EU's Single Market. This is an important part of the Digital Agenda for Europe. In fact, the Commission proposed a Decision establishing a Radio Spectrum Policy Programme (RSPP) in September 2010.