Senator Richard Blumenthal from Connecticut is spearheading a bill — titled the Park It Act — that would require OEMs to include a safety feature in all keyless vehicles that would automatically shut off the engine after a set period of idling. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration would enforce the new legislation.
Curbing the dangers of keyless car tech
As convenient as keyless vehicle technology is, it also comes with a unique hazard. That’s because drivers who own keyless vehicles have to manually press the key-fob button to turn off the engine. If they forget to do this, the engine continues to idle indefinitely. This, in turn, provides an ideal setting for carbon-monoxide poisoning, especially if the vehicle is left running in a garage that connects to a house.
Since 2006, this dangerous scenario has resulted in 45 injuries and 28 deaths, as The New York Times shared back in May of last year. The Park It Act promises to significantly reduce this risk.
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Blumenthal introduced the bill to Congress earlier this week. General Motors is the first automaker to express its support for the bill, as evidenced by its recent statement. “This legislation reflects G.M.’s continued dedication to advancing automotive safety.” Considering that GM currently incorporates automatic shut-off features in 31 of its 39 keyless vehicles, it’s not surprising that the brand is rallying behind the Park It Act.
Hopefully, more OEMs will get on board the efforts to pass this new bill. It promises to increase consumer safety so more vehicle owners can enjoy the convenience of keyless tech without worrying about carbon-monoxide hazards.
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News Source: The New York Times
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