"Starting in the 2009 model year, General Motors began equipping some new vehicles with Stolen Vehicle Slowdown. This feature allows OnStar to remotely slow down the stolen vehicle. The service is also expected to help reduce the risk of property damage, serious injuries or fatalities resulting from high-speed pursuits of stolen vehicles. Customers may opt out of that function.[8] The first successful use of this service occurred in October 2009 when a stolen Chevrolet Tahoe was recovered and its suspected thief was apprehended.[9]
"Also in 2009, General Motors began equipping some new vehicles with Remote Ignition Block, allowing OnStar to remotely deactivate the ignition so when the stolen vehicle is shut off, it cannot be restarted.[10]"
The immediate reporting of accidents probably reduces deaths because of faster emergency response. Car theft in some parts of America is, I am sure, a major expense.
The ability to slow down or immobilize a stolen car is likely a net savings in lives and police services for state and local governments.
I am pretty sure because of the duration of vehicle diagnostic services included, that even without OnStar there are benefits for insurers.
The downside of Onstar is all the data it keeps about you, even if you don't have an Onstar account. There are videos on the net dedicated to how to disconnect the Onstar antenna without damaging the system. (It is a transmitter and needs a dummy load)
ReplyDeleteI nearly purchased a new-to-me Suburban, but in the end I decided to not mess with another tracking issue. The phone is bad enough, but I can (and do) put it in a Faraday cage, or just leave it at home.
I guess if I was a drug dealer, spy, or revolutionary, this would matter.
DeleteI'd say a large portion of the reduction is a Cadillac is a lot less expensive to repair than a Jag.
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ReplyDeleteThe ability to slow down or immobilize a stolen car is likely a net savings in lives and police services for state and local governments.
At Second City Cop, the word is "never chase". The city just paid out $80M to the family of a 10-year-old girl killed in a crash during a pursuit. https://chicago.suntimes.com/chicago/2024/12/11/jury-to-decide-how-much-the-city-owes-family-of-young-girl-killed-in-2020-police-chase-crash
Chasing cars is almost always a bad idea. If the driver has just robbed a bank or already done a hit and run, it may be somewhat unavoidable. A 10 mph chase is better than 60 mph.
DeleteThat might be true. I have almost no experience paying for Jaguar repairs; they are just bulletproof.
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