When AI is your copilot: Securing the future of vehicle safety systems

Connected systems such as advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), telematics and dashcam platforms are all designed to help keep drivers safe, but these systems can also become a pathway for bad actors. 

Artificial intelligence is assisting drivers in an increasing number of ways, transforming how vehicles perceive risk, respond to danger, and communicate with the world around them. Nationwide’s 2024 Driving Behaviors survey found that 83% of consumers now have at least one semi-autonomous feature in their car, and 66% of those drivers say these features make the road safer. 

But every new capability comes with a new set of questions. As AI becomes more deeply integrated into vehicle systems, it also opens up vulnerabilities that fleet managers, insurers, and drivers can’t afford to ignore. Let’s walk through what AI brings to vehicle safety, and cybersecurity measures it demands in return. 

ADAS: The co-pilot getting smarter by the day

An IIHS study compared rates of police reported crashes and insurance claims for vehicles with and without ADAS and discovered ADAS features help reduced accidents. For example: front to rear crashes (rear-ends) were 27% lower when equipped with forward collision warning (FCW), and 50% lower with FCW and autobrake. 

Traditional ADAS (adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, lane-keeping assist, automatic emergency braking) relies on preset rules and sensor thresholds. AI takes those same sensors—cameras, radar, lidar – and adds a layer of intelligence that learns, adapts, and predicts. Instead of simply reacting to a car braking ahead, an AI-enhanced system can anticipate the behavior of surrounding vehicles, recognize a pedestrian stepping off a curb, and interpret complex traffic scenarios in real time.  

Benefits over past ADAS systems include: 

• Sharper perception: AI models trained on millions of driving scenarios can reduce false alarms and unnecessary hard braking. 

• Predictive intervention: AI can flag risky conditions before they escalate, giving the driver – or the vehicle – extra seconds to react. 

• Continuous improvement: Machine learning means these systems get better over time, refining their responses as they encounter new data. 

This matters because behavior of other drivers continues to grow riskier. In Nationwide’s survey, 77% of business drivers said other drivers have become more aggressive and are looking at their phones more often. AI-enhanced ADAS acts as a vigilant second set of eyes, exactly when human attention is faltering. 

Dashcams: From passive recorders to active guardians

AI has changed the dashcam from a passive recorder of traffic to a more active tool to aid the driver. 

Modern AI-powered dashcams can use cameras and machine learning to detect distracted driving, drowsiness, tailgating, harsh braking and other risky driving behaviors as they occur, then alert the driver in the moment.  

The appeal is easy to see in the data. Among commercial drivers, 72% agree these devices are very helpful and 82% support their use. Even more telling, 89% say dashcams provide valuable evidence in the event of an accident, and 88% say they increase transparency and accountability. 

AI amplifies each of those benefits: 

• Real-time driver monitoring: AI can recognize the signs of fatigue or distraction—a drooping head, eyes off the road, a phone in hand—and issue an immediate warning. 

• Event detection and classification: Instead of forcing a fleet manager to sift through hours of footage, AI automatically flags and categorizes noteworthy events, saving enormous time. 

• Context-rich evidence: When an incident does occur, AI-enriched footage can capture the full picture—speed, following distance, and driver behavior—strengthening the case for liability decisions. 

Telematics: Turning data into fleet safety

Telematics devices – plugged into a vehicle or running through a mobile app – collect a constant stream of data on speed, braking, acceleration, location, and route. AI can turn that raw stream into insight. 

The Nationwide survey shows telematics is already gaining ground. More than three-fourths of commercial drivers (82%) support the use of behavior-monitoring technology.  

AI takes telematics further in several ways: 

• Behavioral scoring: AI can analyze driving patterns to build a risk profile for each driver, identifying who needs coaching and who deserves recognition. 

• Predictive maintenance: By spotting anomalies in vehicle performance data, AI can flag mechanical issues before they cause a breakdown—or an accident. 

• Route and demand optimization: For fleets grappling with rising costs, AI-driven telematics can optimize routing to cut fuel use and reduce time on the road. 

That last point lands hard when you consider the pressures fleets face today. Nearly 4 in 10 commercial drivers (39%) say their employer is struggling with staffing shortages, and the fallout is serious: 72% report heavier workloads, 71% report longer hours, and 49% say the shortages have led to less emphasis on safety training. AI-powered telematics can help stretched teams work smarter and keep safety front and center when resources are thin. 

The hard truth: Every connection is a potential breach

The data these systems provide can pay off through: 

1. Improved safety: Data-driven insights let organizations target the exact behaviors and conditions driving their losses. 
2. Operational efficiency: Automated analysis frees human teams from tedious review work, letting them focus on decisions that matter. 
3. Competitive advantage: Organizations that harness their data effectively can help control costs, coach drivers more precisely, and protect their people more reliably. 

But the same connectivity that makes AI-powered vehicle safety systems so powerful also makes them a target. 

Telematics devices, AI dashcams, and connected ADAS components generate and transmit sensitive data: precise location histories, driving patterns, video footage, and personal identifiers. Every device that communicates with a network, a cloud platform, or a mobile app is a potential point of entry for a cyberattack. 

The risks are real and specific: 

• Data interception: Location and behavioral data transmitted between vehicles and cloud systems can be intercepted if not properly encrypted, exposing where drivers go and when. 

• System manipulation: In a worst-case scenario, a compromised ADAS or connected safety system could be manipulated, turning a safety feature into a hazard. 

• Privacy erosion: Even without malicious intent, poor data governance can violate driver privacy. The Nationwide survey found that while commercial drivers broadly support monitoring technology, 57% have privacy concerns about its use. 

• Ransomware and fleet-wide disruption: A single vulnerability can cascade across an entire connected fleet, halting operations and holding critical data hostage. 

The good news is that these risks are manageable. The following actions can help protect data against cyber attacks:

1. Encrypt everything, end to end

All data should be encrypted using current standards. This is the single most effective barrier against interception.

2. Control access rigorously

Implement role-based access controls, strong authentication, and clear policies about who can view driver data and why. 

3. Keep systems patched and updated

AI models and the devices that run them need regular updates to close newly discovered vulnerabilities to hacking. 

4. Vet vendors

How vendors collect, store, and protect data should be scrutinized and security standards should be documented before fleets connect their systems.

5. Audit and monitor continuously

Regular security audits—including checks for algorithmic bias and data integrity—help catch problems before they escalate. Continuous monitoring of network activity can flag anomalies that signal an attempted breach.

6. Train workers

Comprehensive training ensures drivers and fleet managers understand both how to use these tools and how to protect the data they generate. 

7. Establish clear governance

Company-wide policies on data collection, retention, and use should be set. There should be a designated owner who is responsible for staying current on emerging cybersecurity standards and privacy regulations, particularly as the legal landscape around connected-vehicle data continues to evolve. 

The road ahead

AI-powered vehicle safety systems are a significant advance in road safety. Because they collect such rich data, cybersecurity protocols need to advance in step with the technology. 

• Resources to share:  
• • Nationwide’s Cyber resource center – Help businesses safeguard their data privacy while today’s advanced vehicle systems help protect drivers. 

• • Nationwide’s safe driver resource hub – Share resources and training with businesses to help them keep drivers safe.