The car is not always in “Park” when the driver thinks it is with keyless ignition systems. Safety problems ensue.
With automakers rushing to add ‘keyless ignition’ to vehicles, the National Highway Traffic Safety – NHTSA – warns about potential safety problems the key fixed.
Without the machine-cut steel key and an ignition interlock system, a driver can walk from the vehicle without putting the car in ‘Park’” leaving it able to roll away. If the ignition is left on, carbon monoxide poisoning could also occur in a garage or enclosed space.
Keyless Ignition Systems first became available in the early 2000s in U.S. luxury models, but have since become standard on less expensive. More numerous vehicles increasing the safety risk.
NHTSA says drivers who shut off the car without putting their vehicle in “park” and walk away from the vehicle, leaves it prone to roll away; Those who do put their vehicle in park but leave the ignition on, are increasing the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning in a closed environment.
The NHTSA warns that those don’t know how to shut down the engine in the event of any on-road emergency are also vulnerable.
