Keyless Engine Start Has Allegedly Caused 28 American Deaths

Keyless car entry and start systems are being held responsible for ‘at least 28’ carbon monoxide poisoning deaths in the US.

After recently being accused of allowing an easy way for thieves to steal your car in seconds without even using force, keyless start is now coming under fire because a small number of Americans are apparently forgetting to turn their engines off.

After parking in their garage they simply exit the car and go about their day, according to a New York Times investigation. The idling engine then slowly fills the house with deadly carbon monoxide. The number of tragic and unnecessary deaths is still under review.

A report quoted by the newspaper says that keyless start, which means drivers don’t need to remove the car’s key from a bag or pocket, is now standard on almost half of all new vehicles sold in the US. Evidently engine tech is now so advanced that people can’t hear them running in an enclosed space.

Ford is reportedly introducing a safety net that will cut the engine after 30 minutes of idling if the key isn’t detected in the car, but other car makers are said to be against the idea.

Source: New York Times