The carbon monoxide risk associated with running engines in closed garages is not new, but a new design trend in vehicles is generating fresh concern: keyless ignitions. In today’s fast moving world, automakers must battle between developing convenient features in their vehicles to satisfy consumers while also maintaining the safety of drivers and their passengers. Vehicle safety features that most often come to mind include seatbelts, airbags, and antilock brakes; but, the unseen dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning are often overlooked.
Keyless ignitions in vehicles are soaring in popularity, and are now standard in over half of the 17 million new vehicles sold annually in the United States. Generally, consumers enjoy the convenience associated with keyless ignitions, opting instead for a small key fob that remotely alerts the car of the driver’s presence. However, there are some very real dangers associated with these new conveniences.
Despite the rise in popularity in keyless ignitions, there are no national standards in place to ensure drivers shut their vehicles off before leaving their vehicles. Some automakers implement audible alerts, some developed automatic shutoff mechanisms, but there are no standardized regulations that consumers can rely upon. Drivers who grew up driving keyed ignitions far too often simply take for granted that when they leave their vehicle with their keychain the vehicles must be off. However, with recent advancements in engine noise, a driver could leave a keyless car running in their garage by mistake and not be alerted to the danger.
In fact, according an article published in the New York Times since the onset of keyless ignitions, more than two dozen drivers of keyless cars have died from carbon monoxide poisoning after accidentally leaving their vehicle running in their attached garage. In addition many more drivers suffer from injuries such as permanent brain damage in similar circumstances.
If you or a loved one own a car with a keyless ignition, take care to ensure your vehicle is properly turned off before leaving the car in an attached garage for the night. Until automakers are required to follow national standards to prevent these accidents, it is up to you to make sure that the vehicle is turned off after it is parked.
If you or a loved one has been injured from a car with a keyless ignition, hiring an attorney lawyer who understands the issues involved can make all the difference. Please call the offices of Indiana Car Accident Attorney James Ludlow at 1-877-897-9466, or submit the simple form on the Contact Us page on www.ludlowlaw.com for a free case evaluation and put my experience and knowledge to work for you.
