Old fashioned car keys seem to be a thing of the past–automakers around the world are rushing to install wireless systems that allow key-less entry to new vehicles. The engine is started by pushing a button, instead of taking anything out of pockets or purses. These devices were debuted ten years ago on luxury vehicles and are quickly spreading to all sectors of the automobile market. The number of cars manufactured in the past five years with wireless systems, standard or optional, has quadrupled.
However, because many drivers do not know how these safety systems work, there is great potential for safety problems to arise. Motorists have reported that they were unable to shut down their engines during highway emergencies. There were also reports of sudden acceleration when the car was pulled over. In some cases, parked cars accidentally rolled away because the engine was left on for hours without the driver realizing it.
Traditional keys work the same exact way–but automakers have different procedures of installing the wireless systems. Because of this, owners may not know how to handle their own cars in an emergency situation, let alone a borrowed or rented vehicle. Federal regulators and an auto industry trade group believe that the risk is so severe, that they are looking at adopting standard installing procedures.
Auto safety experts say that the car industry needs to do a better job of explaining the advanced technology to motorists, as well as adopt common operating procedures. Industry officials say that these glitches will be fixed over the course of technological improvements as the wireless systems are still a recent development. “As they become more widely adopted, I think we’ll find that they converge in how they operate,” commented Dave Proefke, a vehicle security engineer at General Motors Co.
Glitches in cars can cause devastating accidents resulting in severe personal injury. An experienced personal injury attorney can help provide the best legal representation for the case. Car accidents can result in life-changing personal injuries, for which you may be entitled to compensation. Therefore, it is important to contact a hard-working and aggressive personal injury lawyer for assistance. The Law Offices of Bredell and Bredell has years of experience helping injured people, and are ready to help you.
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