Life is so convenient today, thanks to our technological leaps over the past century. One of the greatest inventions was the smartphone. With these handheld devices and their connection to the web, the world has become a global village because cross-bordercommunication is seamless. Let's not forget vehicles, which have revolutionized logistics and transportation.
But it's not all roses and sunshine with today’s innovations. In a bid to make things more convenient for the everyday American, some technological advancements have caused harm to consumers.
A prime example is automatic ignition systems in vehicles. Designed with convenience and modernization in mind, this technology sought to do away with outdated and often clunky car keys. But it comes with its risks. Read on to find out what they are.
The Risks of Automatic Ignition Vehicles
The engine startup process should be simple enough if your vehicle has an automatic ignition system. But this simplicity can sometimes be the very thing that poses risks for you and other American consumers.
How do you switch off your car with a modern ignition system? Normally, it would involve pressing the ignition button twice to power down the engine. Now, this is where the problem lies. Some consumers forget to press the button again, perhaps because they are in a hurry or it slipped their mind.
It looks like an innocent mistake, but the repercussions can be dire. By forgetting to press the button a second time, the car stays running and consumes gasoline, increasing costs.
But this is not the biggest concern for you, especially if the car is parked at your home garage.
A running vehicle produces carbon monoxide. And when it is parked in a closed space, such as your home parking garage, the carbon monoxide can seep into other areas of your house.
When you inhale this gas, you may experience some not-so-comfortable symptoms, which can eventually lead to death. They are:
● Headache and dizziness
● Nausea
● Fatigue
● Confusion and Disorientation
● Loss of Consciousness
● Long-term health risks
● Death
Perhaps the most significant risk of inhaling carbon monoxide is that it is a silent killer. Most victims don't realize until when it is too late. True to the fact, there have been more than 36 reported cases of Americans losing their lives after leaving their car running in their home garage.
The other risk that comes with automatic ignition vehicles is theft. All it takes is for the thief to find the forgotten keys inside the car to steal it. Sometimes, these burglars use sophisticated techniques to steal vehicles with automatic ignition.
“One of these techniques is a relay attack. Here, thieves use an electronic device to capture the key's signal from inside the victim's device and relay it to a second device near the car. The vehicle then assumes that the key fob is nearby, allowing the thieves to unlock and start it,” says criminal defense attorney John Yannone
To protect your vehicle, take the following precautions:
● Always lock your car
● Do not leave your key fob inside
● Park in secure places
● Do not leave valuables in your vehicle
● Always keep your key fob 20 meters away from your car when locked
While it has many advantages, automatic ignition has its fair share of risks. People have been known to forget to properly turn off their cars, leaving them to consume more gasoline and cause carbon monoxide poisoning. Finally, thieves use sophisticated technology like relay attacks to steal vehicles with automatic ignition systems.
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