The rise of the connected car and advanced In-car technology is a dangerous distraction for company car drivers. That’s the view of more than half of businesses in a poll conducted by the RAC.

Of the 500 UK businesses included in May’s survey, 51 per cent of them expressed concerns about their drivers becoming distracted by on-board technology. This rose to 55 per cent for small businesses with fewer than 100 employees.

Wi-Fi-enabled vehicles have been commended for improving safety with features that immediately alert the emergency services in the event of a crash. However, the ability to check emails and go online via dashboard touchscreens raises the risk of driver distraction, says the RAC.

More than a third of the survey’s respondents (35 per cent) were concerned that driver data could be hacked, while almost one in five (18 per cent) were worried that autonomous self-driving features were taking too much control away from drivers.

RAC Telematics MD Nick Walker said that while connected vehicle technology marked an exciting new chapter in motoring, businesses need to understand what it means for their vehicles’ safety, security and management.