Four in five drivers believe that car manufacturers need to do more to ensure their vehicles are more difficult to steal, according to a new survey on the matter
Motorists are crying out for additional help from leading car manufacturers amid a surge in keyless vehicle thefts.
A staggering 80 per cent of motorists reckon that car companies should step up their game to make cars harder to steal. A mere six per cent of those surveyed reckoned that car makers shouldn’t bother beefing up security to make their motors less pinchable. Meanwhile, 13 per cent of people have steered clear of certain car models due to worries they might be a magnet for crooks.
The Green Insurer’s CEO Paul Baxter said: “It’s clear from our research that the overwhelming majority of consumers believe car manufacturers have a pivotal role to play in reducing car crime. More worryingly, our findings indicate that if a particular model is deemed to be a high-risk target for thieves, almost one in two purchasers will be put off from buying.”
He reckons solutions could involve “advanced encryption methods” or splashing out on top-notch vehicle tracking and recovery systems. Motoring legal eagle Nick Freeman said: “The motoring industry has been negligent because they were warned when this new technology was beginning to emerge. It’s a catastrophic situation where people cannot insure their cars or face ridiculously high premiums.”
Stephen Mason, a barrister with a focus on electronic evidence and communication interception, raised the alarm in the Computer Law and Security Review back in April 2012 about the vulnerabilities of keyless car systems. He cautioned: “There has been insouciance and ignorance by the motoring industry, not wanting to pay the price for proper security. We now have modern cars with the latest technology and the owners have to put on old-fashioned steering locks to protect them from being stolen.”,
Mike Hawes, chief executive at SMMT, said: “Car makers continuously introduce new technology to stay one step ahead of criminals. This investment has helped drive down vehicle theft dramatically over the past 30 years.”
He added that while the industry is always upping its game with better security features, it’s not a silver bullet, reports Birmingham Live. He said: “While manufacturers continue to enhance security systems, technological innovation alone cannot prevent all theft. That’s why the sector is working closely with the police, insurance industry and other security stakeholders.”
