Brakes on car thieves

GM's OnStar service slows down stolen vehicles so cops can catch up safely

By BRIAN GRAY, SUN MEDIA

Last Updated: 3rd October 2008, 2:58am

General Motors of Canada with OnStar demonstrated new technology to quickly and safely catch car thieves Oct. 2, 2008. Click here to watch the video
General Motors of Canada with OnStar demonstrated new technology to quickly and safely catch car thieves Oct. 2, 2008.
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Technology has stretched the long arm of the law.

General Motors of Canada is introducing stolen vehicle slow-down technology through its OnStar service, designed to stop thieves in their tracks.

Using Global Positioning System to pinpoint a vehicle's location, an OnStar advisor can send a remote signal to slow a vehicle down and assist police in arresting the thief, said Tom Odell, technology planning manager for GM Canada.

"In the past, we were able to work with law enforcement and track the stolen vehicle, tell them the location of the stolen vehicle," Odell said during a demonstration of the technology yesterday.

COPS WANT MORE

But police services across North America have said they wanted to do more with the remote capabilities available through the OnStar service which is owned by General Motors.

"Law enforcement agencies have said they'd like to be able to reach out and do more," Odell said.

Sgt. Tim Burrows, of the Toronto Police, said it will assist officers in catching thieves and even cut down on possible high-speed chases through busy city streets.

"In terms of policing and public safety, this technology is second to none," Burrows said outside 23 Division on Finch Ave. W. where the demonstration was taking place.

"If a pursuit was to occur and the vehicle is located and observed, we can stop that vehicle from causing any harm or danger farther on down the road."

Consultation with a broad range of police forces across North America -- including Toronto Police -- has established a protocol that must be followed in order to activate the slow-down technology.

First, the vehicle owner must contact both police and an OnStar adviser and request the service.

PARKING LIGHTS FLASH

Once OnStar has helped police to locate the stolen vehicle, pursuing officers must request activation of the slow-down.

Unknown to the driver, the car's parking lights flash to let police know they have the right vehicle.

The vehicle is then slowed to a crawl, but not stopped, making it easier for police to pull the vehicle over.

During the vehicle slow-down, the brakes and steering still work but pressing down on the accelerator has no effect.

The car owner must also be a subscriber to the OnStar service, which requires an additional fee.

The vehicle slow-down technology will be made available on some GM vehicles starting with the 2009 model year and should be on all OnStar equipped vehicles during the next two model years, Odell said.

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AUTO THEFT BY THE NUMBERS

About half of all vehicles stolen in Canada are "chopped" and sold for parts. The remainder are used for committing other crimes or just for joyrides before being abandoned.

- Number of cars stolen in Canada every year: 170,000.

- Annual cost to insurers and policy holders: $600 million.

- Average annual cost per policy: $43.

- Other annual costs (court, policing and health care): $400 million.

- Number of Canadians who die annually as a result of auto theft: 40.

- Number of Canadians seriously injured annually: 65

-- Insurance Bureau of Canada