## 2 Related Work
### Advantages and Benefits of the Proposed Technology  
The inherently decentralized architecture of the blockchain facilitates accurate data verification and traceability without reliance on central authoritative entities, thereby significantly mitigating vulnerabilities to a wide array of cybersecurity threats [19]. The ledger's immutability guarantees the permanence of each recorded transaction or vehicular event, thus assuring data integrity and enabling reliable audit processes and crossverification by authenticated network participants [15].  
The blockchain's integration within VANETs not only fortifies the security framework, but also introduces an efficient paradigm for managing vehicular location data [20]. Each entity, whether a vehicular node or a roadside unit, becomes an integral component of the blockchain consensus mechanism, thereby ensuring the authenticity and timeliness of shared data [11]. Smart contracts autonomously execute on the blockchain, thus streamlining the validation process for location and movement data. This automation circumvents the need for manual verification, thereby enhancing the functional efficiency of intelligent transportation systems [9]. Moreover, the principles of immutability and transparency that are foundational to the blockchain provide a trustworthy platform for exchanging critical security data [70; 71], such as traffic alerts and vehicle status updates [10].  
By leveraging the intrinsic features of the blockchain (its decentralization, transparency, and immutability) we facilitate a paradigm shift regarding how vehicular data is authenticated and managed. This shift not only augments system reliability, but also elevates data verifiability to unprecedented levels. Through the blockchain-enabled framework, each vehicle becomes a node within a vast, interconnected network, thereby contributing to and benefitting from a collective pool of shared positional and movement data. The consensus algorithms intrinsic to blockchain technology ensure that only verified and authenticated data are appended to the ledger. This process effectively neutralizes the risks of tampered or falsified data, which could otherwise lead to catastrophic outcomes in real-time vehicular navigation and coordination [12].  
Moreover, the implementation of smart contracts automates the enforcement of predefined rules and policies, which govern the data sharing and validation processes. These smart contracts, once deployed, act without the need for centralized oversight, thus ensuring that vehicles operate within the agreed-upon guidelines and maintaining the integrity and reliability of the vehicular network.  
The blockchain's ledger provides a permanent, tamper-proof record of all vehicular activities, thereby creating a reliable source of data for analytics and decision-making processes. It also serves as an immutable point of reference for auditing and legal purposes, thereby enhancing accountability within the network. As such, the integration of blockchain technology into VANETs presents a robust solution to the challenges of vehicle tracking, positioning, and movement, thereby establishing a new standard for security and efficiency in intelligent transportation systems [12].