The Benefits of Connected Vehicles
Think of a connected car like your smartphone, except it’s on wheels.
A connected car has telematics, a technology that allows it to connect to the internet not unlike your smartphone.
A recent Forbes article points out that “with all the media attention for the burgeoning EV market, it’s easy to miss that there is another revolution taking place at the same time,” referring to connected vehicles.
The benefits of connected vehicles will help make driving safer and more efficient.
What can connected vehicles do?
Connected vehicles can share information such as traffic, road condition, weather, and speed traps.
Consumers can get up-to-date content like the latest maps and software features. Carmakers can gather diagnostic data from vehicles on the road to detect, analyze, and address issues.
Data gathered from a connected car can be sent to the servicing dealer to provide faster and better service.
Transport Canada notes that “this technology can give the driver and passengers information, provide convenient functions like roadside assistance, and diagnose vehicle issues. Different features may also support navigation, and can recommend nearby restaurants, attractions and entertainment.”
Connected and automated vehicles may be able to improve traffic flow by coordinating their movements.
What are automated vehicles?
Transport Canada explains that “an automated vehicle uses a combination of sensors, controllers, onboard computers and software to help the vehicle control at least some driving functions instead of a human driver.”
Automated vehicles can control functions like steering, acceleration, braking, and monitoring the driving environment.
Levels of automation are defined by SAE International and recognized by governments around the world. There are different levels of automation - Level 1 is no automation and level 5 is full automation.
Today's cars have automation levels 0-2, including features like lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, and automatic emergency braking.
Benefits of connected and automated vehicles
Connected and automated vehicles have the potential to make transportation safer, more accessible, and more efficient.
Safer roads
Safer roads are one of the biggest potential benefits of connected and automated vehicles.
Transport Canada explains that “according to data from our National Collision Database, driver behaviour was a contributing factor in about 86% of collisions that caused death and injury in Canada.”
As connectivity and automation improve, collisions could be reduced, and roads could become safer for everyone.
Connected services could also provide tow and vehicle repair services or direct vehicles to their own service centers and accidents could be reconstructed more accurately from data gathered by connected and automated cars.
Accessibility
Connected and automated vehicles could make transportation accessible to more Canadians, including people with disabilities, seniors, low-income families, and rural communities. It would also be easier to get to and from public transportation, like bus stops, subway or metro stations, and rail lines. Delivery services would also be improved.
Business opportunities
Automated and connected vehicles could create new business opportunities in sectors of the economy like automotive manufacturing, transportation services, digital technology, farming, forestry, mining, and other industries that rely on road transportation.
More accurate insurance rates
A driver risk score could become widely used like a credit score when determining insurance rates and odometer data could be used for affordable Pay Per Mile insurance.
