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U.S. Reps. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) and Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) introduced H.R. 701, the Security and Privacy in Your Car Study Act of 2017, known as "The SPY Car Study Act," which would direct the National Highway Safety Traffic Administration to conduct a study to recommend a framework for regulating automotive software safety (e.g. diagnostic systems, navigation, and entertainment systems), cybersecurity and privacy regulations.

The American Motorcyclist Association supports the bill, because motorcyclists will share the road with vehicles using these technologies. Your safety is our utmost concern and security from cyber-intrusion is crucial. In addition, we support measures to assure the privacy of your vehicle information.

Urge your representative to cosponsor H.R. 701. Use our tools to easily send a prewritten message today.

This bill reinforces the NHTSA's proposed Cybersecurity Best Practices for Modern Vehicles manual. The AMA supports NHTSA's recommendations to automobile manufacturers. Specifically, in comments submitted Nov. 2, the AMA supported the agency's plan for "Allocating dedicated resources within the organization focused on researching, investigating, implementing, testing, and validating product cybersecurity measures and vulnerabilities." (Emphasis added).

Since 2014, the AMA has been urging the U.S. Department of Transportation to test the security of vehicle-to-vehicle communications to ensure motorcyclists' safety and privacy. If this manual is adopted, it will help ensure that vehicles using advanced crash-avoidance and vehicle-to-vehicle technologies are not compromised. A threat the FBI warns is a real risk.

With vehicular intersections already a well-documented problem for motorcyclists, can you imagine the danger presented by a false sense of security among drivers who rely too heavily on advanced safety technologies? Drivers may believe these technologies will fully protect them, as well as other road users, and may not be prepared should these technologies malfunction at a critical juncture.

This bill and NHTSA's actions represent a sound first step in meeting a provision of the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act (i.e., Highway Bill) relating to cybersecurity standards. It will help prevent hacking, spoofing and disruption of connected and automated transportation vehicles.

Now more than ever, it is crucial that you and your riding friends become members of the AMA to help protect our riding freedoms. More members mean more clout against the opponents of motorcycling. That support will help fight for your rights - on the road, trail, racetrack, and in the halls of government. If you are a motorcycle rider, join the AMA at AmericanMotorcyclist.com/membership/join.