By Rita Cook
Correspondent
Texas Metro News
WASHINGTON D.C. – Do you want your vehicle to be a surveillance tool?
Starting in 2027 that could be the next “big brother thing” for the American people.
As an auto writer for many years, I saw this trend in its infancy when I was driving certain vehicles. In some cases these vehicles I was driving decided I had been driving too long or that I needed to stop for coffee.
While the vehicle did not shut down because it was monitoring my driving performance in the future that is planned to be the next step.
The law the government is trying to pass is that by 2027, every new car sold in the United States could be required to actively monitor the person behind the wheel.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has warned Congress however, that the technology may not be ready.
It was also noted the administration has not released the list of approved technologies that will be part of the rules to implement the law.
Congress has passed legislation requiring automakers to install technology that can “prevent or limit motor vehicle operation” if it detects impaired or drunken driving.
But how is it possible for a machine to monitor if I am impaired or have been drinking? What if a spider crawls down from the ceiling and I swerve to try to deal with that situation (that has happened to me).
The law in question is part of the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. In brief it does require all new cars sold after September 2027 to includes the monitoring technology according to https://stateofsurveillance.org/news/federal-car-surveillance-mandate-2027-nhtsa-dadss-privacy-2026/. Infrared cameras will track your eyes, breath sensors will measure alcohol, and your car can refuse to start or limit its speed.
“Privacy advocates warn this biometric data could be shared with insurance companies, law enforcement, or sold to data brokers” according to the report.
Having your vehicle stop or slow down without driver control seems to me to be more of, or at least as dangerous as, a drunk driver. After all, no system is perfect.
One report indicated “These systems do not just observe, they collect data. That includes how you drive, how often you appear distracted, and how the system interprets your behavior over time. The question drivers keep asking is simple: where does that data go?”
Those in support of this new big brother technology argue that the benefits are clear but let us keep in mind that we are not talking about passive safety features like airbags or traction control.
Think about the fact that already vehicles have features that override the driver unless the feature is turned off, for example lane-keeping systems and automatic braking, both features have almost made me have an accident or lose control of my vehicle more than once.
My question is when will Americans be given back their autonomy and allowed to live freely again without an overreaching government believing they have the right to monitor your every move.
I guess the answer in this case is, do not purchase a new car beginning in 2027 and make the auto manufacturers foolish enough to play with your freedom irrelevant. Otherwise, you get what you pay for and that could come at the cost of your liberty.
Rita Cook is a world traveler and writer/editor who specializes in writing on travel, auto, crime and politics. A correspondent for Texas Metro News, she has published 11 books and has also produced low-budget films.
