Here is an Associated Press writeup on a new feature GM is going to bring to its OnStar service in 2009: The ability to remotely disable your vehicle! Highlights from the article:
- The service will be on available on 20 models in 2009.
- The cutout will be a gradual cutout so cars won’t be screeching to a halt on the highway.
- The system will likely give a verbal warning to the operator to give them some time to prepare.
- People can opt-out of this feature while retaining their OnStar subscription.
- It is being sold as a technology which will help eliminate dangerous police chases.
Sounds great, but most ideas sound great on paper. My complaint is that this is an electronic feature and so it can be disabled. Most thieves will likely have some black box they plug into the car which disables this annoyance. On top of this, imagine when some jerk discovers how to hack the system to disable other people’s cars. What a great party trick.
Personally, if I were going to steal a car, I’d just drive up with a tow truck and tow the thing away. It is probably going to be gutted for parts anyway so who cares if it starts? But I’m pretty sure if Clint got his hands on this technology I’d never be sure if my car was going to start again!
on October 9, 2007 at 8:03 pm sammage wrote:
Let’s also see how this might malfunction…check engine light turning into the car not starting at all!
on October 9, 2007 at 8:08 pm Henry wrote:
Ohh totally. I hate unnecesary electronics and this is such a prime example. Diagnosing “car stalls randomly” just got that much harder!
on October 9, 2007 at 8:40 pm Richard C. wrote:
Imagine how difficult a recall that would be to fix: none of the cars would be able to start at all?
on October 9, 2007 at 11:22 pm Henry wrote:
HAHAHAHAHA. The recall will include paying for a tow truck.
– Henry
on October 10, 2007 at 10:45 am sammage wrote:
Make that a flatbed if it’s an AWD car.
on October 10, 2007 at 10:03 pm Noah wrote:
Shall we take bets on how long before GM starts turning off peoples’ cars for not making car payments? This will definitely produce a case where a car was accidentally stopped in error. Hopefully I’ll have my law degree by then and can cash in on that mishap