Related: Can Fleet Vehicles be Hacked?
Senator Worries Vehicles Are Vulnerable to Hackers
New vehicles that have fully adopted Bluetooth and wireless internet technology leave themselves open to hackers, according to a new report from U.S. Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.).

Photo courtesy of Sen. Markey.

Photo courtesy of Sen. Markey.
New vehicles that have fully adopted Bluetooth and wireless internet technology leave themselves open to hackers, according to a new report from U.S. Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.).
The report was first covered by CBS News' 60 Minutes during its Feb. 8 broadcast.
"Drivers have come to rely on these new technologies, but unfortunately the automakers haven't done their part to protect us from cyber-attacks or privacy invasions," said Markey, a member of the commerce, science and transportation committee. "Even as we are more connected than ever in our cars and trucks, our technology systems and data security remain largely unprotected."
Senator Markey posed his questions after studies showed how hackers can take control of several popular vehicles, causing them to suddenly accelerate, turn, kill the brakes, activate the horn, control the headlights, and modify the speedometer and fuel gauge readings. Markey also said he was concerned about the rise of navigation and other features that record and send location-based or driving history information.
As part of his research, Markey asked automobile manufacturers about measures they're taking to address these issues and protect drivers. General Motors and Audi have taken an aggressive approach to rolling out onboard Wi-Fi in their 2015-model-year vehicles
Read the full report here.
More Safety

The Safest Fleets Aren’t the Ones with the Most Technology
You’ve made the telematics investment. Here’s how to capture the other half of its value and build the safest fleet on the road.
Read More →
Hidden in Plain Sight: Fleet Compliance Risks
Fleet compliance isn't just about having policies — it's about consistently enforcing them. This practical guide reveals six hidden compliance risks common in public sector and shared fleet operations and outlines proven strategies to improve visibility, accountability, and audit readiness
Read More →
NETS Sets 2026 Fleet Safety Benchmark Conference for Indianapolis
The Sept. 15–17 program will feature fleet benchmarking data, case studies, emerging technologies, and implementation strategies while running alongside the NSC Safety Congress & Expo.
Read More →
Off-the-Job Crashes Account for 43% of Employers’ $61.7 Billion Crash Burden
NETS quantifies costs dispersed across fleet, risk, HR, and other departments while providing new per-crash benchmarks for employers.
Read More →
Ram Recalls More Than 1.27 Million 1500 Pickups for Seat Belt Anchor Issue
The recall affects certain 2019-2026 Ram 1500 pickups that may have improperly attached second-row seat belt buckle anchors.
Read More →How Better Visibility Cut Speeding Violations by 48%
Fleet leaders don't need more data, they need clearer visibility into what the data is saying. This case study explores how one utility replaced speeding-event counts with a single metric — miles driven in violation — to strengthen safety and significantly reduce speeding violations.
Read More →
Operation Safe Driver Week: Why the Industry's Oldest Safety Campaign Still Matters to Fleets
A look at how a 2007 enforcement initiative became one of the most consequential weeks on the fleet safety calendar, and what it means for your drivers in 2026.
Read More →
Nexar-Nauto Merger Aims to Give Fleets Better Safety Intelligence Through Larger Driving Dataset
Stefan Heck tells Automotive Fleet that combining more than 10 billion miles of driving history with Nexar's AI models will give fleets deeper insights into driver risk and roadway conditions than either company could provide independently.
Read More →From Silos to Solutions: Relationship Management for Safer Fleets
From telematics adoption and driver accountability to policy consistency and risk mitigation, this episode breaks down what it really takes to build a safer fleet culture without slowing business down.
Read More →
IIHS Launches First Commercial Vehicle Safety Evaluations
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has begun evaluating heavy-duty pickups and cargo vans for driver protection. Which models earned top marks?
Read More →
