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Technology has made our lives easier and more manageable in many ways. Monitoring the evolution of technology and making adjustments to it enhances its utility for those who use it. Continued efforts to improve tech in motor vehicles can enhance traffic safety and provide drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians with the information they need to help reduce the risk of accidents.
The car manufacturing industry produces ever-evolving technology. Automated Driving Systems (ADS) have been used for many years for the purpose of decreasing traffic accidents and making the roads safer across the country. ADS started with simple tech and has evolved to include more advanced technology, all aimed at making traveling on roads and highways safer.
Despite the increase in safety technology, traffic accidents still happen every day. Traffic accidents can lead to severe injury or death. If you have suffered an injury in an accident, reach out to our California car accident attorneys at Arash Law at (888) 488-1391 to schedule a free initial consultation.
What Is ADS?
Automated Driving Systems (ADS) include technology that was developed to increase driver safety. ADS started with technology like radar, cameras, sensors, and other software. The next evolution of ADS is focused on using existing technology and developing new software that can decrease the negative impact of an accident and give drivers the information they need to avoid a crash.
As ADS tech advances, it can make self-driving cars and trucks a reality. One day, our vehicles will drive us, and we will have a choice about whether we want to take control of the wheel or just sit back and relax. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the ongoing development of self-driving technology aims to reduce road accidents by minimizing human error.
ADS is constantly evolving. The car manufacturing industry’s goal is to increase the ability of ADS to the point that the tech can drive and operate our vehicles for us. To learn more about how things change, it is important to look at the evolution of driver assistance technologies.
Driver Assistance Technologies
Since many accidents are caused by human error, technological assistance aims to reduce the number of traffic accidents and, in turn, decrease the number of severe or fatal injuries. The first driver assistance tech included things like radar, sensors, and cameras.
Today’s ADS tech was built upon these technological advancements of the past. The next evolution of driver assistance technologies is vehicle-to-vehicle communication systems. This technology is explained more below. The goal of these systems is to protect travelers.
Despite the amount of protection many cars have today, accidents still happen. If you have suffered an injury in a car accident, consult with our California personal injury lawyers at Arash Law to understand your legal options.
Vehicle-To-Vehicle Communication Systems
Vehicle-to-vehicle communication systems are automated safety technologies that enable vehicles to exchange information with each other. The information exchanged included the speed of the other vehicle, its intended destination, and the direction of travel, which helps drivers or vehicle systems maintain awareness of surrounding traffic, potentially improving safety.
If a car has a vehicle-to-vehicle communication system, the driver will receive up to ten messages per second that inform them about where other drivers are around them. Vehicle-to-vehicle communication systems provide a driver with tactile, audible, and visual alerts that are designed to warn drivers about dangers surrounding them. These systems are the next step in the evolution of automated safety tech for vehicles.
Vehicle-to-vehicle communication systems expanded on the capabilities of sensors, cameras, and radars to create a world where drivers have the information they need to respond to the threat of an accident. It can be installed in motorcycles, buses, trucks, and cars. The messaging systems have a range of nearly 1,000 feet and detect dangers caused by weather, traffic, and obscured traffic signs and lights.
Drivers who are resistant to technological developments have shown concern that driver information is unprotected if they use a vehicle-to-vehicle communication system. However, this ADS does not collect identifiable information. A vehicle-to-vehicle communication system only collects the information that is necessary to help a driver avoid an accident. This system will not track a vehicle or tamper with any other vehicle system.
Despite advancements in automated driving systems, accidents still occur daily. Our attorneys at Arash Law help clients pursue compensation for injuries resulting from accidents and advocate for their rights throughout the process.
What Is Vehicle Cybersecurity?
Cybersecurity refers to protecting digital systems that contain private information from a cyberattack. Vehicle cybersecurity focuses on protecting driver assistance technologies from digital attacks that may lead to sensitive information being leaked. The need to protect the system and the information it contains is the reason that agencies like the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration focus on increasing cybersecurity.
Cybersecurity And Safety
Many drivers want the new technology to be available so that they can take advantage of the safety features. However, the risk of giving up privacy is a major concern for drivers. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) work together to address both technological advancements and privacy concerns related to traffic safety devices. The NHTSA focuses its efforts on advancing technology, and the FTC protects individuals’ privacy interests.
Current Research On Vehicle Cybersecurity
Although constantly changing technology is a part of our everyday lives, the field of vehicle cybersecurity is a relatively new field of study. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has completed several research projects to attempt to learn more about what is necessary to advance vehicle cybersecurity. Some of the projects the NHTSA has worked on in recent years include:
- The NHTSA has developed a reference parser for vehicle-to-vehicle communication interfaces. The parser helps the agency know how messages are sent between vehicles when the vehicle-to-vehicle communication systems are sending information between cars.
- The NHTSA has researched how vehicle cybersecurity affects commercial vehicles. Since these vehicles are used by companies, any driver assistance technology installed in the vehicle must be free from glitches that will cause sensitive information to be leaked to other people or businesses.
- The NHTSA researched cybersecurity firmware updates. This research included electrical updates regarding how effective vehicle-to-vehicle communications are in protecting driver information.
- The NHTSA used anomaly-based intrusion detection systems to research the metrics and objective test methods required to assess the effectiveness of anomaly-based intrusion detection systems.
This research is meant to increase the car industry’s awareness of any issues that advanced safety technologies present. The car industry can use what it learns from these studies to increase privacy protection for consumers. While most drivers want the option to be safer on the road, they also want to feel confident that their privacy is protected while driving.
Why Is Privacy So Important?
Whenever a new technology hits the market, it is important to calm consumer concerns, especially about privacy. When consumers learned about vehicle-to-vehicle communications systems, many expressed concerns about the potential risk of their information being accessed or shared. Addressing privacy concerns can help tech entrepreneurs and car manufacturers to get consumers on board with safety advancements.
Consumer safety concerns include:
- A breach of personally identifiable information, like the driver’s name or other information.
- The tech’s ability to track their location. Many drivers are concerned that once a vehicle-to-vehicle communication system is installed in their vehicle, the company that installed the device can track their location.
- The technology can fail, and no one will be held accountable for the driver’s injuries.
The NHTSA and the FTC work together to try to address these concerns. NHTSA uses its resources to focus on the technology that will be installed in vehicles and maintains relationships with vehicle manufacturers, suppliers, the public, and governmental agencies to address cybersecurity concerns. The FTC does the tangible work that protects consumers’ privacy.
Despite the advances in technology that keep us safe, accidents still happen. If you have been in an accident, our attorneys can help you explore your options and advocate for your interests.
How Does The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Protect Drivers?
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is leading the way in cybersecurity surrounding ADS. The NHTSA has found that despite its potential benefits, many drivers are hesitant to use the new technology due to safety concerns. In response to those concerns, the NHTSA has increased its focus on cybersecurity.
To create a plan for robust cybersecurity protections for vehicles, the NHTSA has started doing the following:
- Develop ways to quickly convince the manufacturing industry that new technology should be installed as a standard.
- Pushed for the creation of the Auto-ISAC, which is intended to emphasize awareness of cybersecurity across the industry.
- Focuses on making timely detection for potential cybersecurity incidents on the roads.
- Creating a program that identifies the risk of cyberattack in certain important vehicle systems.
- Works to determine how feasible it is to develop performance evaluation methods for automotive cybersecurity.
- Develops new system solutions for cybersecurity protection for ADS.
- Collaborates with the automotive industry to implement effective best practice standards based on established industry guidelines.
- Works with the automotive industry to help leaders in the field understand available research plans and develop tools to support applied research in this area.
NHTSA’s Voluntary Guidance On Automated Driving Systems
To increase the level of consumer acceptance of advanced driver assistance technologies, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration released voluntary guidance on ADS. With this voluntary guidance, the NHTSA tried to reinforce to consumers that privacy is as important to the NHTSA and the FTC as it is for the consumers.
In recent years, the NHTSA received a sponsorship from the FTC to continue its research on how consumer privacy interests are affected. Later that year, the NHTSA published its findings in a document titled “ADS 2.0: A Vision for Safety.” These findings were streamlined. The NHTSA reiterated that privacy is one of its top priorities and that the agency has taken the concerns of the public into account as it continues to develop and advocate for the creation of new driver assistance technologies.
How Does The Federal Trade Commission Help Protect Driver Privacy?
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is a federal agency that is responsible for protecting consumer privacy. Its major focus is on the privacy concerns of U.S. citizens. When it comes to the auto industry and the use of new technology, the FTC is focused on using its authority to protect consumers from their information getting into the wrong hands and being used for inappropriate purposes.
The FTC uses its authority to protect consumer privacy. The Federal Trade Commission has the authority to sue car manufacturers if they act in a way that is different from their stated privacy policy. These lawsuits occur because car manufacturers sometimes use consumer information in ways that engage in unfair or deceptive business practices.
Progress in driver assistance technology has significantly improved driving safety; however, accidents can still occur. When an accident happens, our California car accident attorneys can help determine if you have a valid claim for your injuries and losses.
How Can Arash Law Help Me?
At Arash Law, our experienced California car accident attorneys are committed to advocating for your rights against the negligent parties.
Arash Law assists accident victims in California in the following ways:
- Our attorneys have decades of experience helping accident victims pursue legal claims for their damages. We want to help you, too.
- Our attorneys will advocate for each of our clients. We negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf. We aim to help you seek compensation that reflects your actual losses.
- If a settlement cannot be reached, we are prepared to take your case to trial. Our attorneys have experience representing clients in court and are knowledgeable in personal injury law, rules of evidence, and civil procedure. By working with our firm, you can focus on your recovery while we handle the legal process.
- It is important that you understand the process of settlement negotiations and filing a lawsuit. We aim to answer your questions clearly and keep you updated on your case.
Speak With Our Lawyers At Arash Law To Explore Your Legal Options
Advancements in Automated Driving Systems and driver assistance technology have made the roads much safer in recent years. However, accidents still happen each day on California roads. If you get injured in an accident, call our California accident attorneys at Arash Law.
We are dedicated to helping our clients hold negligent parties accountable. We have the experience and knowledge to assist clients with claims after a traffic accident. Call us at (888) 488-1391 to schedule a free initial consultation or complete our “Do I Have A Case?” form here.
