Leasing company Venson Automotive Solutions has urged the fleet industry to collaborate in order to tackle fears that future autonomous cars could be susceptible to being hacked.
According to the company, if possible software vulnerabilities should be closed before the technology is integrated into mass-market vehicles. This would then boost the confidence of fleet managers and drivers and reduce the chances of the vehicles being hacked, Venson said.
Venson said that future autonomous systems would rely heavily on the internet, which could mean that cyber hackers may be able to override systems to reroute them towards certain destinations or overwhelm them with high volumes of data.
This viewpoint is echoed by the Association of British Insurers, which recently called for the motoring industry to improve the technology.
According to a recent poll by the IAM, 74% of motorists said that insurance companies should provide cover for damages caused by hackers remotely accessing control systems.
“Autonomous cars are already with us, with self-parking and lane control technology already transferring control away from drivers. In 2017, Nissan is launching the Qashqai with autonomous technology, and four UK cities are operating driverless car trials,” said Gil Kelly, operations director at Venson. “However, it’s clear that all industries involved in driverless technology need to work together to smooth the way for its development. Insurers are already working with the Government, vehicle manufacturers and regulators, as well as the legal community to tackle the cyber security challenge.”
“The fleet industry should follow in insurers’ footsteps to ensure the UK continues to operate high standards of safety and security for both private and company car drivers,” he added.
