TRENDING
Autonomous technology is also having an
affect on society as human drivers on the
road could soon become obsolete, according
to more research from MoneySuperMarket.
Driverless vehicles are growing in capability
and popularity among firms that traditionally
employ large numbers of drivers, including
food delivery and bus companies. Automation
of driving jobs could trigger large-scale
redundancies by as early as 2020.
Positions at risk
Although few UK motoring jobs have
been automated to date, as many as 1.2
million face a 67% or higher probability
of automation – representing up to £23.9
billion in annual salaries.
someone they know have experienced a
form of car hacking.
Additionally, there is a lack of knowledge
surrounding the cover available for victims
of these attacks, with 79% of people
admitting they don’t know whether their
car insurance policy would cover them if
their vehicle was hacked.
Tom Flack, Editor-in-Chief at
MoneySuperMarket, commented: “Car
hacking is little understood but a very real
threat. Manufacturers are adding increasing
amounts of technology to our vehicles and
new technology comes with new risks that
drivers need to understand and guard against.
”We recommend fully researching a vehicle
and its capabilities and limitations before
purchase and getting to know a vehicle you
already own to make sure you’re aware of
any potential security flaws. Sometimes
an old-fashioned security method such as
a steering lock, can be all that’s needed to
protect against criminals.
“As far as hacking activity such as keyless
theft – so-called ‘relaying’ – is concerned,
insurers will pay out providing the owner/
driver has taken reasonable care to protect
their property. Owners of cars deemed by
insurers to be a particular risk of keyless theft
may find they are charged higher premiums
as a result.”
26
INTELLIGENTCIO
Among professional drivers, only driving
instructors have little to fear, with the 29,000
employed in the UK having only a 13%
chance of replacement with a machine.
Other careers might not be as lucky, such as:
1. Food delivery drivers – The takeaway
delivery industry is likely to see
replacements across the board, with a
98% chance of automation
2. Waste disposal workers – Binmen face
a 93% likelihood of having their roles
replaced by a machine. Volvo showcased
a prototype bin lorry that uses drones
to identify nearby bins, although this
“
WE CAN ONLY
HOPE THAT
AUTOMATION
BRINGS WITH
IT FRESH
EMPLOYMENT
OPPORTUNITIES
FOR THOSE WHOSE
EXISTING ROLES
DISAPPEAR.
wouldn’t completely replace the need for
human workers
3. Forklift drivers – Automated forklifts
are already commercially available,
meaning that 88,000 workers
employed in the UK may be working on
borrowed time
4. Bus drivers – Mobility firm, Navya,
tested driverless buses in East London
and Heathrow Airport in 2017. Drivers
can expect an 89% chance of being
replaced in the years to come
5. Taxi drivers – As with bus drivers, there
have been moves to automate private
transport services. Notably, Addison Lee
has stated that the company intends to
have automated vehicles deployed in
London by 2021. In Tokyo, meanwhile,
an autonomous taxi service began
operation in August, transporting
passengers along a set route
Emergency services
Despite advances in driverless technology,
jobs in the emergency services are less at
risk, with police facing only a 10% chance
of full-scale replacement, ambulance drivers
25% and fire engine operators 42%. It
is likely that their additional skills will help
protect their careers.
Insurance changes
Currently, those insuring their vehicles
exclusively for work pay average premiums of
£455 annually, while other drivers pay £702.
Despite the lower cost, those driving for work
still represent 25% of all accidents on the
roads – disproportionately high considering
they only represent 7% of drivers.
Flack commented: “Automation will bring
massive changes across the whole of
society and those who drive for a living
may be among the first to feel its effects.
Tests of driverless vehicles are well-
advanced and are soon to be on the roads
– with future positions in commercial usage
already identified.
“If businesses see an opportunity to save
money by making drivers redundant,
they are likely to grab it – that’s the
nature of competition. We can only hope
that automation brings with it fresh
employment opportunities for those whose
existing roles disappear.” n
www.intelligentcio.com