The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has proposed a new rule to address dangers brought on by keyless ignition after receiving various consumer complaints.
According to InfoZine.com, the rule also aims to standardise engine shut-off procedures for stationary and moving vehicles.
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The NHTSA is concerned that drivers are not aware about properly shutting off moving vehicles during an emergency, like the accelerator getting stuck, as highlighted by a tragic, multiple-death case in California that involved a dealer loan Toyota.
Many systems require the button to be pressed for longer than normal periods to turn off a moving vehicle. With the new proposed rule, the NHTSA aims to bring down the time required to shut down the system to a half-second push of the power button.
The proposal also requires a loud continuous warning to be issued in case the driver forgets to put the vehicle in park.
The rule also calls for a one second warning if the driver takes out the key fob without shutting down the engine.
Some recommendations made by the institute include adding a visual alert along with the audible warning in case the driver forgets to put the vehicle in park, plus a more distinctive or frequent alert in case the driver leaves the car running.
