The European Union has a been secretly working with Police to implement remote auto engine-off or kill switch for cars.
The Telegraph reported that the EU is working on secret remote-stopping technology that was found in confidential documents from a EU police committee.The project will devise a solution for a standard for cars int he European makers and could be all cars by the end of the decade. The police will be able to shut off car engines from a computer operated at the police station.
The device cuts off the gas to and the ignition. The “kill switch” tech has a six year deployment schedule with the purpose to end high-speed car chases which is better than spiking a car tires which can cause damage and accidents.
A group called Statewatch leaked the documents which were approved by the EU’s Standing Committee on Operational Cooperation on Internal Security, known as Cosi.
Civil liberties groups attacked the plan.
Other technologies being explored are improved plate recognition with intelligence sharing.
The reported noted “Cars on the run can be dangerous for citizens. Criminal offenders will take risks to escape after a crime. In most cases the police are unable to chase the criminal due to a lack of efficient means to stop the vehicle safely.”
On the other hand, remotely stopping vehicles could cause more accidents, unless they are communication with all the other vehicles on the road.
We are wondering if a criminal would be able to disable safety features of V2V programs in order to escape the Police, after the V2V technology is deployed.
People with the OnStar system who have their cars stolen can remotely disable their cars upon notification to OnStar with the owner’s approval.