Rethinking V2X: Embracing User-First Development for Industry Advancement

American roadway safety is facing significant challenges. With traffic and pedestrian fatalities approaching record levels, a paradigm shift from Proof of Technology (PoT) to Proof of Value (PoV) will promote the Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) industry advancement. While a PoT-driven ecosystem has spurred the advancement of the V2X space, this paper underscores the value of a PoV mindset where solutions are focused on the user instead of being technologically driven. Users do not think in terms of minimum viable products (MVP). Instead, they anticipate useful, usable, and lovable products. Putting customers in sharp focus and planning products and services around their needs will pave the way for their widespread adoption and acceptance of V2X technology. This paper concludes with a call to make technology subservient to human needs rather than the other way around.