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Tuesday October 9, 2007
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Car thieves better think twice the next time they're looking to make a quick buck. According to USA Today, General Motors will equip 1.7 million of its 2009-model vehicles with a technology that enables officers to remotely slow down the engines of stolen cars through the OnStar mobile communications system. "The system...is a big move toward reducing what GM says are as many as 30,000 pursuits around the country every year. Up to 400 people die in accidents involving chases, according to PursuitWatch.org, an activist group." The OnStar system already has an integrated global-tracking device, which can be used to find stolen vehicles. However, this new technology will allow police officers to stop those stolen vehicles—with the owner's permission, of course. Here's how it would work: a police officer notices a stolen vehicle drive by them. Police can then ask for OnStar intervention, and then the OnStar operator will inform the driver of the stolen vehicle that the engine will begin to slow to idle speed, which can happen in a matter of seconds. The brakes and power steering will still work, since you don't want these car thieves to ram into another car or anything. PursuitWatch.org President John Phillips says "GM's system shows potential so 'we don't have to play Russian roulette with police officers and the public.'"
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