The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) has raised concerns about the security of driverless cars after the Modern Transport Bill was announced during the Queen’s speech last month.
IET cyber security expert Hugh Boyes said: “We must ensure that cyber security is carefully considered. It is not just about the threat of a car being hacked, it also relates to the overall security and safety of the vehicle’s operation.
“For that reason it will be crucial that the Government introduces proper regulations for autonomous vehicles, which should include the need for a software MOT to be performed on a regular basis.
“This should help to assure the ongoing trustworthiness of the vehicle software and systems.”
IET say the operation of an autonomous vehicle will be heavily dependent on software embedded in the vehicle.
It will provide complex functions that are currently performed by the driver, including interpreting potential hazards, changes in vehicle direction and speed and responding safely to vehicle faults or malfunctions.
Boyes added: “It will be vital to ensure that this software runs smoothly so, in the same way as we take our cars for annual MOTs at the local garage today, in the future we will need to include a check on the software to ensure defects and vulnerabilities are addressed.
“How these checks happen, and who is responsible for them, is something we should be thinking about now.”