If you own or have ridden in any number of newer-model vehicles, you have no doubt seen the growth in the use of keyless push-button ignition systems. It seems the traditional metal key is becoming a thing of the past as, according to Edmonds.com, an automotive resource website, keyless ignitions are now standard in 245 models and optional in an additional 31. While there is certainly a perceived level of convenience in not having to insert a key to turn the ignition on or off, it is becoming increasingly apparent that concurrent with that perceived convenience may lurk hazards to life safety.

As it turns out, no longer having to place the vehicle in park and then physically remove the key to turn off the ignition has put people in danger. In an all too common scenario, someone in a rush, comes home and hops out of the car in their garage, but is distracted and forgets to push the button to turn off the vehicle. Meanwhile they close the garage door and go about their business inside the house, all while deadly carbon monoxide fumes are filling their garage and eventually seeping into their house until the vehicle either runs out of gas or is shut off. If you personally have a vehicle with a keyless ignition, you have no doubt had some sort of experience like this happen to you, maybe you didn’t fully get out of the car, or realized that the car was still running, but it is surprisingly easy to do, especially in a world of incessant multitasking.

In an NBC News article on this topic, author Herb Weisbaum cites safety group KidsAndCars.org, which reports that since 2009 there have been at least 19 fatalities, and 25 close calls that can be directly attributed to keyless ignition vehicles. These numbers are likely to increase as more people inevitably purchase a vehicle with this type of ignition.

So we’re now left with the age-old question of convenience vs. security and life safety. As a general rule, the more secure or safe a system is, the less convenient it is and vice-versa. As keyless ignitions become more and more the norm, should there also be a standard introduced for systems integration measures to help stop preventable tragedies? One of the biggest complaints from safety organizations is that there are no checks in place to ensure that the vehicle is turned off when the driver exits. Even though there may be a chime or warning tone, it is often not enough to signal the driver to take action.

One preventative measure that we could see as a solution would be having carbon monoxide detectors installed in places, such as garages, where early detection of buildup could help prevent illness or death. These detectors could be integrated via Bluetooth or WiFi with the vehicle and home, and could automatically turn off the ignition and open the garage door or activate HVAC systems to ventilate all affected areas should carbon monoxide readings reach an unsafe level in the event of a vehicle left idling.

Advancing technologies create many new conveniences in our daily lives, but they are sometimes not without unforeseen hazards, and that is where systems integration becomes crucial. When individual systems fall short, systems integration can create new, adaptable solutions that can resolve both safety and security challenges with a more holistic approach.

The NBC News article, “Keyless Automobile Ignition Systems Are Fatally Flawed, Critics Say” can be read here.

 

 

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