The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Monday approved a request by U.S. state agencies, some automakers, universities and others to use spectrum to deploy connected vehicle technology to prevent crashes, especially at intersections.

The 5.9 GHz spectrum block was reserved in 1999 for automakers to develop technology for vehicles to communicate with each other to avoid crashes but has so far gone largely unused.

The waiver request to use so-called Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything (C-V2X) technology was filed in late 2021 by Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE) AG’s Audi, Ford Motor Co (F.N), Jaguar Land Rover, Utah and Virginia’s transportation departments, Harman International, Panasonic Corp (6752.T) and others.

The technology, if widely used in U.S. vehicles, could prevent at least 600,000 crashes annually, government studies show.