As self-driving cars continuously gain popularity it also captures the government attention. Automatic vehicles are dubbed as safer than human-driven vehicle. However, authorities question such claims.

Self - Driving Cars: Dangers Cited

The advent of self-driving cars, or automatic vehicles (AVs), has witnessed significant financial investments and extensive research and development efforts. However, this technological advancement has also raised pressing concerns regarding safety and security within the industry. As self-driving cars are gradually introduced for both private and public use, the inquiries surrounding personal and even national security have gained prominence, necessitating immediate attention.

As self-driving cars grow rapidly, stakeholders across sectors must address these growing safety risks quickly and comprehensively.

The US Government Watches

According to Reuters, on Monday, U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg stated that the federal government, under his leadership, is committed to utilizing its existing regulatory powers to ensure the safe deployment of autonomous vehicles. This close watch includes General Motors' robotaxi unit Cruise. He emphasized their dedication to taking all necessary measures to guarantee the safety of these innovative technologies on the roads.

Buttigieg's statement came after Cruise pulled out all its vehicles from U.S. testing. The pull out occurred after an October 2 incident in San Francisco. The incident involved another vehicle and ended with a Cruise self-driving taxis dragging a pedestrian. This posted safety concerns and prompted the National Highway Traffic Administration to start an investigation. They are finding out if Cruise is taking enough precautions to ensure pedestrian safety.

Fender Bender reported that, FBI Director Christopher Wray discussed safety concerns related to self-driving cars, or automatic vehicles (AVs), during a World Economic Forum event in January 2023. He encouraged others to take necessary caution regarding the potential misuse of AVs for harming others. Wray stated that Avs can be used for stealing valuable data from drivers.

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Additionally, Wray highlighted an experiment conducted by McAfee researchers. Black tape was placed black tape over a speed limit sign to trick a Tesla's cruise control. What happens next? The vehicle accelerated by 50 mph.

He also cited the risk of cyber attacks from hackers targeting AVs was identified as a potential threat. Security engineer and software developer Zac Morris emphasized that while non-autonomous vehicles are also vulnerable to hacking, AV drivers may be slower to realize such attacks, underscoring the evolving safety concerns in the realm of AV technology.

Another sector, the Vehicle Data Access caucus focuses on ensuring driver data protections. It was established by the House of Representatives in September 2021. Specifically, Rep. Earl "Buddy" Carter has expressed concern about the growing use of vehicle technology. Such technology includes microphones and cameras, and its potential implications for data protection.

This concern is validated by a 2023 Reuters report revealing that Tesla employees were sharing footage from vehicles equipped with cameras that operated even when the vehicles were not in use. These developments highlight the increasing importance of safeguarding data in the context of self-driving cars or automatic vehicles (AVs) and the associated safety concern.

 

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