Will GM Be Driving Your Next New Car?
October 22nd, 2007 Posted in Auto Industry, Eric PetersThis is a guest post by automotive columnist Eric Peters.
Big Brother may be about to get just a bit bigger.
General Motors just announced a new and improved version of its OnStar telematics system that could be used to shut your car’s engine off (or at least, cut back the power) remotely.
Touted as a "safety" feature (of course), the upgraded version of OnStar would give external authorities (law enforcement - and, of course, GM) the ability to send out a signal keyed to the car’s on board computer, which in turn would ease off the gas - no matter how hard you’re putting foot down. GPS-equipped cars already can be located in real time at any time, whether moving or stationary. The "enhanced" version of OnStar would, however, be the first use of satellite technology to physically control the vehicle/supersede the driver.
The system goes live in 2009, when GM will begin offering it on more than 1.7 million new cars and trucks. Chevrolet will lead the way - with up to 60 percent of ‘09 models fitted with "enhanced" OnStar.
So what’s wrong with the idea? Is it cabin-in-the-woods paranoia to be concerned about what, after all, could be a valuable tool for law enforcement?
The answer depends to a great extent on how much you trust the government.
Certainly, the use of "enhanced" OnStar to stop high-speed car chases and retrieve stolen cars is hard to argue with. But will that be all the technology’s used for?
Consider this:
The insurance industry is at this very moment lobbying Congress to impose electronic speed governors on heavy trucks - limiting them to no faster than 68 mph.
Surprisingly, the trucking industry isn’t completely opposed to the idea - provided electronic speed limiters are also fitted to ordinary passenger vehicles, too. Fair’s fair, right?
Now add a dash of "enhanced" OnStar to the brew.
Come 2009, it will be technically feasible to make speeding impossible. A modern car is controlled by computers; the computers are now tied into GPS systems such as OnStar - which have the ability to send and receive electronic transmissions, including instructions that tell the computer how to run the car. "Smart" speed limit signs can now be fitted with transmitters; when a car with "enhanced" OnStar comes into range, the transmitter tells the car’s computer what the maximum allowable speed shall be - and ye shall drive no faster.
Welcome to the future.
"Technology should not just entertain us or make us more comfortable," croons NHTSA Administrator Nicole R. Nason. "It should make us safer." Of course. And what could be safer than making speeding an impossibility? If you haven’t heard this argument voiced openly, just wait. It’s coming as sure as Lindsay Lohan’s next DWI. The safety nags have been patiently waiting for years for technology to catch up to their agenda.
Courtesy of GM, that day has arrived.
Our friends in the insurance and safety lobbies will soon be urging that this "optional" technology become a mandatory feature on every new car. Speeding is illegal - right? Who is going to argue in favor of allowing the automakers to continue building and selling cars capable of being driven 30, 40, 50 mph faster than the highest lawfully allowable maximum?
What about the children, after all?
And if that’s not alarming enough, consider the likely follow-up. Once all new cars are fitted with in-car speed nannies, the glassy eye of government will very likely turn its gaze upon older cars - especially older pre-computer cars, which can’t be electronically controlled because there is no on-board electronic controller. The old car hobby is already (justly) alarmed by recent changes in antique/classic car licensing and registration laws - which are making it harder and more expensive to keep an older car on the road.
In Virginia, for example, changes to the laws governing antique vehicle registration now empower police to conduct what amount to "road-side safety checks." If the cop decides your antique vehicle doesn’t meet this or that jot or tittle of the law, he can seize your plates on the spot and have your antique vehicle towed to the impound lot - notwithstanding that most cops don’t have any specific knowledge of what is/isn’t "right" about decades-old vehicles.
Now the authorities have a new tool in their kit. A cudgel by which they cannot only beat speeders into submission - but which could very well be used to take older cars off the road forever. Consider yourself warned.
And remember to say "thanks, GM."
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38 Responses to “Will GM Be Driving Your Next New Car?”
By Todd on Jun 26, 2008
Sorry if my past comment had spelling mistakes
By Todd on Jun 26, 2008
I agree with most of you that the govt is taking alot of freedom away from us, which is not right. If the govt wants to protect us with our consent find so be it. If auto industry wants to give us safety options that great. The only thing that really gets me upset is that when the govt trys to control us or when auto industry like GM trys to regulate our driving. That so not right. The govt really needs to cut the crap with the “its for safety excuse” because thats BS. There intention behind it is basically control. As for GM they really need to trust the public more because there are responsible people out there. Not everbody drives crazy. The govt should offer us safety options and suggestions but they should not have the right what so ever to control us.
By Barak Hussein Obama on Mar 31, 2008
Airbags deploying is more than just a scratch…..
By Mike on Mar 20, 2008
Watching the new Onstar commercials where the car swerves to miss a deer then hits a tree then an operators telling the driver helps on the way, I can imagine SNL doing a parody where the drunken driver tells her to mind her own business, its just a scratch and cancel the EMS. Wonder what the statistic’s for Onstar reporting minor accidents & subsequent DUI arrest of driver. I’d be pissed if my own car got me busted.
By Joe on Mar 7, 2008
John, I can sympathize with anyone who has someone killed, particularly by anything other then natural causes. It’s understandable that what ever the cause of a incident it would be your central focus and generate a passionate call to do something to rectifying it. It is however, under those circumstances, not the appropriate time run out and pass new laws or call for more enforcement. Cooler heads should prevail.
This is exactly what MADD and similar organizations have done to get such draconian DUI BAC’s and enforcement tactics passed into laws. They use psychology on politicians. It’s hard for any politician to reject a bill for a new law when their emotions get stirred up. MADD drags someone who has gotten badly hurt or someone’s parents that had a kid die because of a alcohol related accident. Any story, the more dramatic the better. Common sense dictates that you try not to make important decisions in that environment. Unfortunately it’s not illegal for MADD or any other organization to do this.
I just wish our founding fathers would not have written, in some cases, such ambiguous documents. Powerful attorneys and activist judges tend to interpret them the way the see fit. It’s probably a good thing the Constitution was written that far back otherwise under the current mood of our society our nanny state would be far worse.
By joe b. on Mar 6, 2008
I don’t think people are going 140 mph, in fact I’ve never seen anyone go much over 80-85mph in my entire life. It sounds like you just don’t trust the human being to be responsible and run his or her own life anymore without help and control from the govt. and thats sad. You and me really don’t belong in the same place. and 2 things; no I won’t be voting for any socialist like Hillary or Obama. and in reading some of these other comments it is clear that my feelings on the subject are in the majority. Goodbye forever freak.
By John on Mar 5, 2008
I’m sure that our founding fathers would agree that today’s world is a much different place than it was 250 years ago. When someone close to you is killed by some asshole careening down the highway at twice the speed limit, then manages to leave the scene of the accident and is never caught, your attitude will change. Go vote for Hillary.
By joe b. on Feb 28, 2008
I just hope that whoever comes up with this bullshit to keep us all safe and orderly and in our cages has a heart attack and drops dead on the highway because he was on his way to the hospital but couldn’t get there in time cuz he had to not speed. We were not put on this earth to exist as long and as law abiding as possible. It’s a good thing that our founding fathers weren’t such a bunch of nanny douchebags as G.M. & whoever else is for this or we would not be here! Shame on us for crap like this.
By John on Feb 5, 2008
Then you’re still a criminal.
By Meg on Feb 5, 2008
Wasting fuel? I would say all of the commuters in VA who drive SUV’s and refuse to carpool are wasting more fuel than speeding wastes.
Fuel economy is gianed by maintaining a contstant speed which city driving does not lend itself well to. You only burn fuel more if you are constantly accelerating and decellerating. Cruising at 70mph or 80mph makes little difference on how much fuel you burn if it is just that cruising. Unless of course you are driving a V10. Like I said, John, you need to get out of the city.
By John on Feb 4, 2008
Meg, I regularly drive the I-95 corridor between NYC & DC and believe me, do 75mph and you’re a hazard because you’re holding up everyone else. Doesn’t matter if in KS or VA, still breaking the law and wasting fuel. If you have that need for speed then get a pilot’s license and buy a plane.
By J on Feb 1, 2008
I doubt speeding is going to go away. Cities need revenue and one big way to achieve this is for PD’s to catch speeders. Sounds good in theory but I dont think it will work. But who knows?
What happens when a person has an emergency and has to drive their personal vehicle to a hospital but cannot get there in time? I bet if this was imposed we would see a lot of people getting to work late for a while. ;)
By Meg on Feb 1, 2008
Guess I’m a little late on the discussion, However after reading John’s “Best safety feature that could be installed on a vehicle today would be a governor set for the maximum legal speed limit (70?) that couldn’t be tampered with.”
Makes me wonder if he’s ever left the city. I mean seriously have you ever driven across the middle of the country, say Kansas or South Dakota. I’ve driven across both and driving 70 mph is like driving 45 mph on the flat interstae when you can see for 50+ miles in any direction.
I think John should get out more.
By John on Dec 24, 2007
Wow, you guys need a life and some BP medication…… lol
By Hubcap on Dec 21, 2007
Damned Gent,
Having spent 20 years as a dealer technician for all of the big 3, but mostly Ford, all I can say is BRAVO!! {{{hubcap stands & cheers}}}
John is the guy Ben Franklin warned us about.
By Damned Gent on Dec 21, 2007
Also, John, regarding your Orwellian comment:
“if it helps keep me safe and I’m not doing anything wrong, then why do I really care who’s watching?”
Move to North Korea, Commie.
By Damned Gent on Dec 21, 2007
To John,
You are obviously an idiot not worth a third grade edjucashun, but I’ll try…
GM makes consistently substandard cars that are engineered to break and designed to be difficult for Joe Sixpack to fix by himself. This generates secondary income for GM in the form of parts and service. I have first hand knowledge of this, as I watch my good friend repeatedly sink money into an ‘economical’ Chevy, made economical because it was built with spit and paper clips. And new spit and paperclips cost a lot of money and must be ‘professionally’ installed.
The insipid ‘Chevy Vs. Ford’ debate makes as much sense as debating whether Bud or Miller has ‘more taste’. Both automakers repeatedly produce junk from foreign parts and resources, then claim they’re ‘Made in America’ because an overpaid ‘worker’ in Georgia took piece ‘a’ and piece ‘b’ off the boat from China and put them together. Look it up, John. This ‘worker’ repeats one simple manual task over and over,and feels justified in being paid upwards of $80+ dollars an hour to do what a monkey could do better and faster with less training. It takes more skill and training to work at a fast food joint than to be an automotive assembly line worker. The average foreign car can be made faster and better, or better and faster, AND shipped here from overseas, and still be sold so much more cheaply than ‘American’ cars that they must be hammered with tariffs to make ‘American’ cars competitive.
Fact is (Seriously, look it up), many Hondas and Toyotas are more ‘American Made’ than Ford or Chevy vehicles.
A brand new Ford Mustang, for instance, has less than 10% parts that originated or were manufactured in America. Ford Tough, indeed.
But you just keep on believing that Bulls**t ‘This is our country’ ad campaign that Chevy trotted out just for gullible folk like yourself.
USA! USA! USA!
By Mark on Dec 17, 2007
Correct Sir John,
The Pariot Act is a powerful government tool
There is a dvd call “Unconstitutional” A War on our Civil Liberties
It is all about the Patriot Act. Every American should see this. See what our Government is aiming for. Is it a “New World Order”? Like Bush wants. Or what is on our money. Yes, we all need to come together against our money hungry institutions.
We need to realize we are all human beings.
Not white, black, indian, mexican….
This is why the Government keeps the race issues on the front burner. So that we don’t unite.
By SirJohn on Dec 11, 2007
Re. the issue of ‘Big Brother’s gross intrusions into its citizens individual privacy, We are well past “1984″—”fishing expeditions” now appear to be fully,and,legally sanctioned via the “PATRIOT ACT”,and its predecessor,and successor laws!!! What kind of “PATRIOT” agrees with the outright RAPING OF OUR U.S. CONSTITUTION as applied to our private ,and personal affairs,our autos,home life,business,et. al. ‘Tis liken to trying to extinguish a fire using gasoline as the ‘extinguishing agent’—WAKE UP AMERICA!!!YOUR HOME IS NO LONGER YOUR CASTLE (NOR IS YOUR VEHICLE,ITS CONTENTS,YOUR “PRIVATE” AFFAIRS, AND OTHER POSSESSIONS, ARE NOT ANY LONGER,SOLELY YOUR PRIVATE CONCERNS,FOR “BIG BROTHER” CAN, AND OFTEN DOES,–BOTH OUTRIGHT AS WELL AS STEALTHILY,MAKE GROSS INTRUSIONS THEREIN )—ALAS, ALAS, OUR MOTHER LIBERTY HAS HER EYES AWASH IN TEARS!!!
By James Young on Dec 5, 2007
John writes:
“Best safety feature that could be installed on a vehicle today would be a governor set for the maximum legal speed limit (70?) that couldn’t be tampered with.”
That’s absurd. It has long been established that speed limits have no effect on key safety measures or, even worse, have a negative correlation as evidenced by the crash incidence curve.
“Basically, from my observations, most people lose any semblance of good judgement once they’re let loose on the interstates. . .”
The statistics don’t support that observation. The fatality rate on Interstate highways is about 0.8 per 100,000,000 VMT.
“GM currently has the best products on the road and IMHO always has.”
That opinion is not supported by consumer choices or other more objective measures.
“If. . .I’m not doing anything wrong, then why do I really care who’s watching?”
That is the mantra of good little fascists everywhere.
By T-Bull on Dec 4, 2007
Just don’t buy GM
By john on Dec 4, 2007
Best safety feature that could be installed on a vehicle today would be a governor set for the maximum legal speed limit (70?) that couldn’t be tampered with. It’s obvious that people watch irresponsible advertising performed on closed courses, or NASCAR, and are too stupid to differentiate reality from fantasy. Furthermore, anybody who drives a classic/antique car and drive it over 65 or 70 is an idiot too, handling and brakes just aren’t up to it. Basically, from my observations, most people lose any semblance of good judgement once they’re let loose on the interstates, so if state police don’t have the means or the desire to enforce the law, then hooray for GM. GM currently has the best products on the road and IMHO always has. It’s hard to believe that all automakers don’t have DRL as standard equipment (GM standard since 1994). Regarding enhanced Onstar, if it helps keep me safe and I’m not doing anything wrong, then why do I really care who’s watching?
By Bill on Nov 23, 2007
Feel free to not order OnStar. If you have it and don’t like the negative features noted if they are actually implemented and I don’t think so, feel free to disconnect or disable it. How about a little aluminum foil wrapped over the OnStar antenna?
By R Werwee on Nov 11, 2007
GM reported it’s biggest losses in history
last week, maybe this is a reason why.
This is just another sign of a bigger problem-
Everyone’s personal freedoms and choice is slowly being taken away.
IMHO mostly because people can not act right-So, we have to make up all kinds of laws and rules, and when they do not work, we make more rules to enforce those already in place.
People are weak- They look to the Government to solve all their problems in lieu of getting an education, then working hard and contributing to the common good of the nation. Just keep rewarding mediocracy by supplementing the wages, housing, food etc. of the lackluster.
Soon the Govt. will tell you everything-Where and if you can smoke, drink, outlaw fatty foods and fast food for the obese, even when and where and who you are allowed to procreate with.
So, why would anyone want to limit how fast a
driver can go? Sometimes drivers need to go faster than the speed limit to escape a hazard or get around a knumbnut. Why limit
anyone’s speed when the Government now can just mail a ticket for speeding because the GPS told them so, or the car’s sensors that detect smoking went off, or you were swearing, or playing music too loudly, or dropped your kids off late for school, or you stopped at a McDonnald’s and you are overweight the sensor in the seat tells them that also.
By Fritz on Nov 10, 2007
DontForgetCapitalism, don’t be surprised at anything.
The masses have become so used to control by the government that it certainly wouldn’t surprise me if this could become reality. We are already monitored everywhere. Vehicles would just be another step towards total control.
There are those educated idiots that have already concluded privacy is no longer necessary in our lives. Surveillance, monitoring…what ever you want to call it. Haven’t you heard, it’s all done under the guise of terrorism. The government must know all your business and constantly monitor you to protect you. Knowing where you go in your car is not that far an extension of that idea. Lean back, enjoy it NOT!
There are those who hinted of this as far back as Ben Franklin and we never heeded the warning.