We’ve all been there – the light turns green, you begin to edge forward, when suddenly a car rockets through the intersection, missing your front bumper by mere inches.

It’s an all-too common situation that’s affected nearly all motorists. But what if your vehicle – and the roadway itself – could warn you of these dangerous traffic situations?

That’s the premise behind the Vehicle Infrastructure Integration – tabbed VII – project, a new wireless technology being considered by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Using equipment similar to the short-range wireless technology found in many laptop computers, special in-road sensors and in-vehicle navigation systems would be able to communicate with one another, and alert drivers to upcoming traffic dangers or problems.

Although the program – which would have to become a standard in every vehicle manufactured in order to be effective – has not yet caught hold, some serious names in the auto manufacturing industry, including DaimlerChrysler and Nissan have thrown their hats into the ring, according to trade publication Network World.

Additionally, the system – which comes with a $3 billion to $10 billion price tag attached – would require more than 200,000 “hot spots” to be installed along interstates and state highways in order to be functional, according to the program’s Web site.

Despite similarities to home networking, the system is in no way a plan to create a consumer-accessible wireless Internet system, Chris Wilson, a spokesperson for DaimlerChrysler, told Network World.

“We’re not designing this to support non-transportation needs,” Wilson said. “It’s not subject to the whims of consumers.”