US Patent 9759574 Vehicle emergency broadcast and relay

A vehicle includes a communication system. The communication system includes at least one controller and may include an RF transceiver. The controller is configured to receive a distress signal including emergency information and a relay count. The controller is configured to respond, when the relay count is less than a predetermined number and a location of the vehicle is greater than a predetermined distance away from a transmission location and an origination location of the distress signal, by causing the emergency information to be transmitted with an incremented relay count. The controller may be further configured to respond to the location of the vehicle being between the origination location and at least one transmission location by inhibiting the transmitting of the emergency information.