Connected vehicles: Data and behavioural analysis insights

This collaborative research project explores how connected vehicle (CV) data can inform insurance risk assessment while addressing customer privacy concerns.

UTS researchers are launching a comprehensive national study to understand how Australian drivers perceive connected vehicle technology and data sharing, while advancing the science of driving behaviour analysis to improve road safety.

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Participants

• Insurance Australia Limited (IAG)
• University of Technology Sydney

This project combines cutting-edge machine learning analytics with large-scale market research to explore two critical questions facing Australia’s transportation future:

• How do Australians feel about sharing their driving data?
• What can connected vehicle data reveal about risky driving behaviours that could help make our roads safer?

The research will unfold in two parallel phases:

1. A nationwide market research study surveying approximately 1,000 Australian drivers to understand attitudes toward safe driving and data sharing.
2. An advanced data science investigation using telematics data to identify risky driving patterns and develop safety improvement strategies.

Project background

Insurers around the world are increasingly embracing CV and telematics data to enhance risk assessment, improve safety, and offer more personalised pricing. In North America and Europe, where regulatory support and vehicle connectivity are advanced, insurers are leveraging telematics data not just for dynamic pricing, but also for fraud prevention, claims automation, and driver coaching.

Connected vehicle technology is rapidly transforming Australia’s mobility landscape, offering unprecedented opportunities to understand driving behaviour and improve road safety. However, significant questions remain about public receptiveness to these technologies, particularly around privacy concerns and data sharing practices.

The Data Science Institute at UTS’s Future Mobility Lab is addressing this knowledge gap through comprehensive research that bridges technical capability with social understanding. The project investigates what motivates Australian drivers to adopt connected vehicle programs, what barriers prevent uptake, and how data privacy concerns can be addressed through transparent practices.

On the technical front, UTS researchers will conduct sophisticated data integration and analysis to understand driving behaviour patterns at scale. Using advanced machine learning techniques, the team will analyse telematics data to identify risky driving behaviours, assess safety implications across different road environments, and develop evidence-based strategies for encouraging safer driving habits.

In partnership with IAG as an industry collaborator, UTS will explore how connected vehicle insights can contribute to broader road safety objectives while maintaining rigorous privacy standards and building public trust in these emerging technologies.

Project objectives

• Conduct comprehensive market research to understand Australian drivers’ attitudes, motivations, and concerns regarding connected vehicle data sharing across diverse demographics and regions.
• Develop advanced data-driven analytical frameworks to identify risky driving behaviours and quantify safety implications using machine learning and geospatial analysis.
• Establish best practices for data privacy and transparency that can build public trust in connected vehicle technologies.

Expected outcomes

This research will provide evidence-based insights into public attitudes toward connected vehicle adoption, identify effective strategies for building trust around data sharing, and demonstrate how advanced analytics can contribute to road safety improvements.

The findings will help inform policy development, industry practices, and future research directions in this rapidly evolving field.

Please note …

This page will be a living record of this project. As it matures, hits milestones, etc., we’ll continue to add information, links, images, interviews and more. Watch this space!