Washington, January 11 : Researchers at the University of California, Irvine, have revealed that a study is being carried out to see whether a peer-to-peer (P2P) system, similar to the one used by Internet users to share files, may be helpful in reducing road congestion and traffic accidents.

The researchers say that the zero-infrastructure system called `Autonet' is being checked for its ability to create a network of vehicles that can exchange timely information about traffic conditions, incidents, and accidents.

They have already carried out a validation of the Autonet system, reports Science Daily.

In a prototype created by them, based on readily available 802.11b wireless technology, an in-vehicle computer "client" with an informative graphical user interface (GUI) continuously monitors other nearby clients on the wireless network, and then exchanges knowledge about local road conditions.

The researchers have revealed that their system can handle measurements for approximately 3,500 traffic incidents for two vehicles passing each other at highway speeds.

According to them, not all the wireless clients in the network need be vehicles, but roadside monitoring posts could also be embedded in the network. (ANI)