When you think about it, you know a lot about your four-wheel pet. You know when it was made, what type of gas it prefers, how many suitcases you can fit in the trunk, what that weird noise means, and how many miles you can drive after the gas light comes on. But have you ever wondered what your car knows about you?
In this day and age, we’re used to having our devices track our activity. We’ve accepted that our smart devices collect data about us and have agreed (sort of) to exchange personal information for convenience.
However, when it comes to cars, we have different expectations. And yet, our vehicles know a lot about us.
The average driver spends about 300 hours in their car every year. That means over 365 days, you spend almost two weeks in your vehicle. This comes as no surprise since driving is a much less stressful activity than it used to be. Don’t know how to parallel park? No worries, your car will do it for you. It can send texts while you’re driving, monitor your blind spots for your safety, and even give you massages so you don’t end up with a sore neck.
Of course, all these perks come with a price. While your car is serving you, it’s also working for the automakers. Let’s take a look at what your car probably knows about you.
What Does Your Car Know About You?
A lot. First of all, your car knows where you live. Even if you don’t put your home address into your navigation system, it can figure out where you live based on your driving tendencies. Similarly, it can figure out where you work. In addition, it can assume a lot of things based on your location, from your favorite coffee shops and restaurants to your friends’ addresses.
If you’ve synced your phone contacts to your car, it knows about your personal relationships, too. A lot of drivers with busy schedules love to have their car read their emails and messages to them, but while the vehicle is doing this, it’s also collecting data on what your messages say.
Sensors in seats can tell whether you’re putting on weight, while your radio knows your music preferences. If you like to listen to sports or political talk radio while driving to work, your car can even determine your political preferences and figure out your favorite sports team.
A black box in your car records data about your speed. It also knows how often you slam on the brakes or whether you wear a seatbelt. As we all know, if you’re in an accident, every second counts. An ambulance arriving a minute early can make the difference between life and death. Luckily, new cars can contact emergency services on their own in case of an accident.
Cars manufactured today are incredibly intelligent since most of them have more than 100 microprocessors and 100 million lines of code. Impressive, right?
While all these functions are responsible for the functionality, privacy, and safety of your car, they also record and collect vehicle information. Currently, automakers use this data to analyze and improve performance and increase vehicle safety and efficiency.
It’s safe to say that no one wants to be stuck in traffic. With the smart technology cars use nowadays, they can recommend the safest route and help you avoid traffic jams. Furthermore, your vehicle can monitor mechanical parts and remind you when it’s time for maintenance. Since regular car service improves safety, increases the lifespan of your vehicle, and boosts performance, having your car advise you when it needs maintenance is a useful feature.
If you get locked out, you can open your car remotely. Calling your loved ones to come and pick you up or bring a spare set of keys is a thing of the past.
Unfortunately, there is no denying that hackers can use this data to steal your personal information and invade your privacy. However, there’s no need to panic. Drivers aren’t vulnerable to these kinds of attacks, since they’re complicated and pricey. If someone really wants to get their hands on your personal data, it’s easier to hack your smartphone or computer.
Can You Protect Your Data?
Yes, to a degree. For example, when you decide to sell your car, be sure to restore all your car’s settings to default. In addition, make sure to remove your smartphone from the paired devices. For more tips on selling your car privately, see our article 7 Ways to Help Protect Yourself When Selling a Car.
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