Buffalo Grove Fire Department Warns of Keyless Ignition Dangers

In early August of 2018, the Buffalo Grove Fire Department responded to a call at a multi-family dwelling for the odor of natural gas; once on the scene, fire officials determined there were high (and deadly) carbon monoxide (CO) levels. The cause of this serious issue was due to a car that was accidentally left running in the attached garage. The vehicle had a keyless ingition, and the driver had forgotten to turn it off before entering the home.

New studies have shown that drivers are unwittingly leaving their vehicles (that have keyless ignitions) running inside garages, and this can cause a home to fill with CO. This deadly gas is both odorless and colorless, and is nicknamed 'the silent killer'.

More than two dozen people have died due to this issue over the last several years, and the large majority of them were elderly. Older generations in particular appear to be having trouble adapting to this newer technology. In all of these cases, drivers unintentionally filled their homes with toxic fumes by leaving their cars running inside attached garages. Others that did not die in these exact circumstances have been left with serious injuries as a result of CO poisoning.

Keyless ignitions use radio signals that are transmitted through a fob which can start the car's engine. Keyless technology comes standard in more than half of the 17 million new cars sold each year in the United States. There are no federal regulations or requirements for automatic engine shutoffs, or beeping sounds to warn drivers that a car is still running.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has so far had three failed attempts to adopt regulations which would require car manufacturers to install external and/or internal warnings when a car is left running.

Some manufacturers have voluntarily implemented features where the engine will cut off after 30 minutes if it is idling and the fob isn’t inside the vehicle. Many car makers have chosen not to implement similar safety measures.

There is no federal agency that keeps comprehensive records on carbon monoxide deaths related to keyless-ignition vehicles — so the exact number of deaths relating to this issue is unknown.

The Buffalo Grove Fire Department would like to remind residents to make sure that their cars are turned off before exiting the vehicle.