Do They Have A Case? Saftey Group Wants To Regulate Keyless-Ignition Vehicles

The keyless push-button ignition was a solution looking for a problem.

I have questioned why keyless ignition has become so prevalent.

There is a subset of people who are just oblivous either becuase they were born that way or else because they are elderly with conditions that make them more easily confused.

This problem could be seen coming a mile away and it is shameful that automakers have not done more to make these safer.

The other thing that bugs me is all the creative license being taken with transmission selectors. Aside from a column-mounted lever (ala GM trucks) or console-mounted shifter (which takes up room), the Mercedes stalk it the most intuitive one in my opinion. The BMW version is confusing (press forward to go in reverse and pull backwards to go forwards in drive ????? ) and the FCA one is just deadly. The knob transmission has its own set of problems.

Let's stick with what works, engineering!

You do realize that all cars were push button start during the early years of the automobile. Keys were used to thwart theft. You mean to tell me that folks from the 1910's are able to use something that we in 2018 cant?

I love keyless entry and push button starting. But this has a relatively simple solution. When the car is left running but the key fob has exited the car, have a time limit that will shut the car off. If someone is actually still in the car, have a warning that allows them to do something to keep it running.

Say the driver runs into a store while the passenger remains in the car. Due to outdoor temps (cold or hot) you want the car to keep running. Allow the passenger to answer the alert and keep the car on. No response, turn the car off after no more than 5 minutes.

If someone leaves a key fob in the car unattended (really shouldn't, as that can run the battery down fast), include the seat sensors in the circuit. No front seat passengers, and no response to the alert, shut down a running car that hasn't moved in 5 minutes, regardless of the fob being in the car.

If the car has remote starting, make sure it has time limits that meet the same requirements. I believe they already do, for the most part.

That's the start of a solution, but doesn't quite cover the common "outliers" such as leaving your dog in the car with the A/C running on a hot day; or people with disabilities who're unable to answer the alert for some reason.

Maybe the key fob can report the alert to make sure the driver is aware that the car is still running and respond from a distance? I would imagine that would require a new wireless connection between the fob and the car, which would likely be an expensive engineering and product challenge. Require keyless entry to be used in conjunction with a smartphone app registration to deliver the alerts?

Ultimately, keyless ignition is a bit of an affect that doesn't really solve any issues except those of convenience. i.e. You don't want to deal with taking your key out of your pocket to start the car.

No one has any business leaving anyone or anything inside a running car other than a conscious, alert adult. No children, no animals, and not someone that is incapable of responding to an issue with the car. If the exhaust heat set something on fire beneath the car, any occupant needs to be able to exit the car. So you don't leave an invalid, a child or an animal in a running car, period. You can't design a solution to cover every scenario, or to protect every person who doesn't use common sense.

Problem is easily solved with EVs. Some don't even have a Start/Stop button, you just open the door to turn the car on and walk away to turn it off. Do we really need to regulate something that will be obsolete in a few years?

Collect your check for your trolling PR from Tesla and cash it because they are heading for perdition.

I don't think so... but on topic, what you have against getting rid of the Start/Stop button?

Let's not forget how often people leave the car running for passengers and pets in the cars! I seem to be able to turn my cars off with wireless keys pretty regularly...

I used to this this was a moot point because cars chime when you exit with the key in, or the you have a keyless car and its still in some "active" mode. The driver should pay attention to chimes.

And then someone mentioned a segment of our society who can't pay attention to audible chimes: The deaf. In America, about a million people are functionally deaf.

So yeah, automakers need to take an extra step to make their cars safe when they add a new convenience feature, like keyless entry/start.

THis is NOT a problem of the "switch" in the car - this is a problem of the idiot behind the wheel. My 1955 Buick Special had a key - that did not start the car - you needed to press the Floor switch to activate the starter. I do not recall having a problem after the first time I started it.

While I could see that this would be something a manufacturer would tell their DEALERS to tell the customers on delivery - but - as far as I know - virtually EVERY new car has a detailed MANUAL - the includes this information - and information on other systems you cannot figure out alone (THE Buttons on the FORD and NISSAN doors for example - could do more than just open ONE door - and THAT was a feature I really liked). Even if the manual is electronic. With a new feature - I generally read the manual rather than assume something about it. Maybe other sentient humans should do the same.

Why do houses not have carbon monoxide alarms? Why do garages not have sealed doors to prevent this or auto opening doors when CO reaches a certain level? Where I live CO detectors are required.