OnStar has a message for car thieves: Not so fast.

The General Motors unit on Thursday activated its Stolen Vehicle Slowdown service, which sends a signal that remotely slows down a vehicle that has been reported stolen in the United States or Canada. OnStar says the service should reduce some of the 30,000 high-speed police pursuits in the United States each year.

The technology will be integrated into the OnStar hardware on more than a million 2009 GM vehicles. Stolen Vehicle Slowdown is an enhancement of a vehicle location service that OnStar has offered since 1996.

Here's how it works: A subscriber reports a stolen vehicle to the police and OnStar. An OnStar adviser uses global positioning satellite technology to find the vehicle and provides that location to law enforcement.

Once police officers can see the vehicle and conditions are considered safe, the police can request a slowdown. OnStar then sends a signal to activate the hazard lights to make sure police are following the correct vehicle.

Next, OnStar reduces engine power to take the vehicle to idle speed. Other systems, such as power steering and brakes, still will work. Customers can opt out of the service.



This article was last updated on: 10/09/08, 11:34 et

 

Haha thats bad ass. lol

 

ah...and pretty soon all restaurants will be Taco Bell's and we'll be wiping or asses with shells

but really, that does sound awesome

 

I sometimes wished i had onstar, is there a way to get it aftermarket?

 

Just another reason i love GM. Always taking it a step further!

 

To play devils advacate....this means they know how fast and how you drive your car = void warranty

 

oh that is another reason i glad i kept my onstar!!!

Well the GPS feature in any car could be used to figure out how fast you are or were going.

 

agreed,but can the other GPS feature shut your car down?? Agree it is a good thing if your car is stolen...but.

 

yeah you would think if they could slow down the car then they would be able to shut it down, which would be easier on everyone

 

yeah true but I will enjoy it if my car is stolen

 

You know all I have to do to jack your car is walk up to it and rip off the antenna on the back ?


on-Star for theft = Epic FAIL

Lojack or SkyTracker


Or hide a cell phone in the dash somewhere and hook it up to your switched 12 volt write down ESN number off phone and if its stolen give cops the ESN number and they will have what ever provider the phone is find it by marking the location by tower. It doesn't have to be a phone with current service. Just a good working old cell phone and a car charger

 

but at least there is an chance of the theives not doing that. better than no chance at all right?

 

This sounds cool and all and if you get your car stolen this would definately give you some hope of getting your car back. If you think about it though, next the cops will want to make a deal with Onstar and other companies out there to tap into there system when necessary. kinda like big brother in your car.


I just feel that privacy in the future will not be part of what this country was founded on, Freedom.


Haha, I'm not crazy guys, just underway right now and bored off my mind. Sucks

 

i wish they would put all that creative thinking into the interior of their vehicles

 

Love GM, always will. Another innovation from General Motors - officially badass

 

I have OnStar and Lojack in my 2009 LT. Can't stop Lojack from what I understand. Police will always find the car.