**4. Conclusions**

The correctness and factual correctness of key object identifiers (e.g. motor vehicles) is one of the basic prerequisites for the functionality of any information system [37]. If this unique identifier is not correct (it is incorrect), then it is impossible to find an unambiguous result in any record (computer database) by a simple, single query [38].

Is the 9% error rate in a key (vehicle) register acceptable? From our professional point of view, it is not. We must also be aware that information systems are today interconnected, especially the state ones (e.g. the vehicle register administered by the Ministry of Transport and the register of stolen or interest vehicles maintained by the police). It can be assumed that the error rate in the VIN identifier exists objectively in all the information systems and is approximately the same. Thus, if, for example, two information systems are linked together by a VIN, the probability that the link will not occur is then twice as high, i.e. 18 %. The real world of linking records containing motor vehicles is very complex, as shown in **Figure 6**. But today, the key national registers of state and public administrations are no longer just a static matter for internal needs to "record something," but must also serve in an active mode for quick solutions, such as security threats of various natures. An example is the pan-European eCALL project to provide online information about a vehicle in distress (e.g. in case of a crash) from the vehicle register to the Integrated Rescue System forces for conducting rescue operations. The key identifier for the link is the VIN. If there is an error in it, it may mean that rescuers do not get the necessary information about the vehicle, its technical characteristics in time for their work, which may fundamentally affect the technology of intervention and, therefore, in certain cases endanger the health or lives of the accident participants [39, 40]. Similarly, counter-terrorism forces may not obtain information about the vehicle and its owner at critical moments [41, 42].

If we can eliminate trivial errors in the VIN caused by inaccurate entry of its length or the presence of the O, Q, and J forbidden characters in the VIN, the error rate still remains 3–5 %. This is due to human factors (inattention, fatigue, intent – fraud by which the vehicle identity is changed, etc.). Based on our research, the 3–5 % error rate generally applies to all the European countries where additional sophisticated checks on the formal and content accuracy of the VIN by decoding it using "VINdecoder" applications are not in place, and where the calculation using the check digit in the VIN cannot be simply applied. It has been noted that the error rate for private entities (banks, insurance companies, leasing companies, etc.) is significantly greater than in the government IS. In order to eliminate this type of error rate, three basic procedures can be recommended for the acquisition of data (VIN identifiers) into the information systems of the public administration: taking data directly from vehicle manufacturers in electronic form; multiple verification of vehicle identity between different information systems; and systematic use of the VINdecoder that

#### *Impact of Digital Vehicle Identification Errors on Critical Information Systems DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.107888*

checks the online VIN when it enters the information systems. The error rate of 5% is still high, because it doubles every time two information systems are linked, and this means in practice that one in 10 vehicles is practically, unequivocally unidentifiable! This is unacceptable for critical infrastructure information systems and must be addressed satisfactorily.

The VIN identifier is an important, unique key in all information systems [43]. The quality of the VIN, its flawlessness, decides whether the vehicle will be found during the search or not. Information systems are connected to each other precisely with the help of VIN. Among these information systems, in practice, there are also systems of the so-called critical infrastructure – search and registration systems of the police, security and rescue services, forensic institutions, etc. In other words, the VIN therefore decides whether a stolen vehicle will be found during an attempt to register it, whether fraud of a property nature will be prevented, or whether correct technical or personal data of the owner or operator of the vehicle will be provided in the course of rescue work when solving a traffic accident, etc.

In recent years, the VIN is also stored in the vehicle in its digital form. This allows the VIN to be better protected against its inadvertent or intentional changes. At the same time, the possibilities of eliminating VIN errors in various information systems are significantly improved. The VIN can be obtained using a standard OBD interface and then transferred directly to the relevant registration information system. This prevents errors caused by the human factor. At the same time, the VIN of each type of vehicle has its own internal, fixed logical structure that can be checked. In a similar way, the VIN is digitally stored in all electronic control units of the vehicle. Today's vehicle has an average of around 80–90 of these units.

It is therefore possible and desirable to automatically check the VIN in all these units, since the VIN must be identical everywhere. Different VIN values from one of the control units means unauthorized intervention in the control unit. This can be a warning signal, a suspicion that the vehicle comes from criminal activity or has been improperly handled outside of an authorized service center.
