Modern technology that’s built into nearly every vehicle being produced today makes many things possible. Besides better efficiency, safety and comfort, computers also monitor speed, acceleration and stopping, seat belt use and idling time…information known as “telemetric data”. Because of that, yours and most other vehicles on the road are talking to each other, contributing to maps that show where bottlenecks are happening, and helping public agencies do such things as direct their crews to crash scenes or slippery spots in winter. Now, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation wants to use more of that data in doing its job.
The agency already uses crash statistics, traffic counts, camera feeds, shared data with public safety agencies and more to achieve safe and efficient roadways, but they’re now looking at using telemetric data to improve crash analysis and identify intersections, highways or other areas where there are greater safety risks. Leveraging that data could further help identify locations to prioritize engineering solutions to improve safety, but that also raises privacy concerns. After all, that data could conceivably reveal driving habits and destinations that could impact you in more than a few unwanted ways.
To address it all, a group called the Wisconsin Automated Vehicle External, or “WAVE” Advisory Committee advises the department on emerging vehicle technologies. Twice-yearly meetings of the nonprofits, industry professionals, academics, lawmakers, and state, local and federal agency representatives that make up the group advise the Wisconsin DOT on how the Connected and Automated Vehicle (CAV) technologies can be used for improvements, and also how that information might negatively impact various parties involved with transportation.
The administrator of WisDOT’s Division of Budget and Strategic Initiatives, Lea Collins-Woracheck, said that as promising as telematic data is as a tool that can revolutionize the DOT’s work, it must be used wisely, and privacy must be protected.
Another subject of the most recent Committee meeting was that of Automated and even Driverless Vehicles. Those use cameras and sensors to perform some driving functions, such as steering and braking, to avoid crashes. While many newer vehicles already incorporate such technologies, current Wisconsin law requires an operator to be behind the wheel and in physical control of a vehicle at all times while driving on Wisconsin roadways. With no recommendations to change that policy included in the release, it would appear for now that you’re not likely to see a car without a driver on Wisconsin roads anytime soon.
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