DRIVE
For a timeline of car
tech—from cassette
decks to OnStar:
AMAinsider.com
Data-Driven
Driving
Through advances
in vehicle telematics, cars now
gather a vast
amount of data
Automakers, insurers
and organizations like
AMA are exploring the
ways that information
could be used to
optimize car maintenance, driving habits
and more.
Who’s really in the driver’s seat?
BY ALI BRYAN
FROM FITBITS TO IPHONES, smart technology
has enabled consumers to enjoy many conveniences. We can track planes, count calories and even deposit cheques at the touch
of a button. The options are endless in scope
and application. It’s even more intriguing
when you consider how smart technology is
revolutionizing the automotive industry.
“Vehicles are transforming into
smartphones on wheels,” says Jeff Walker,
vice president of public affairs at CAA.
The implications are significant and
complex, impacting maintenance, safety,
communication, entertainment and privacy.
Connected cars are not a new concept.
Many brands already operate with some
level of connectivity. In-dash technology
and apps, such as Android Auto or Apple
CarPlay, sync a driver’s smartphone with the
vehicle’s infotainment system.
Then there are actual driving features
controlled by digital systems, including lanecentering, automatic parking, diagnostic
reporting, maintenance scheduling and
mapping. Imagine a scenario in which your
vehicle tells you it needs new brake pads and
schedules the maintenance directly from the
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dash. Or after analyzing your blood sugar,
your car suggests you eat a Timbit.
But advancing technology isn’t only about
entertainment and convenience—safety is
paramount. Human error continues to be
the leading cause of collisions and injuries,
attributable to an estimated 90 percent
of crashes. Self-driving cars could largely
eliminate this issue.
Autonomous vehicles can come equipped
with night-vision capability, proximity alert
and collision prevention systems. Using
advanced sensor technologies, these systems
work both independently and collaboratively
to prevent or reduce the likelihood of an
accident. For example, the 2