Toyota adds an engine stop feature for added safety

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Cars that can be left on for hours even after the driver has left the vehicle have been put on death account. According to a New York Times article published in May 2018, since 2006, 28 people have died from accidents related to carbon monoxide and at least 45 were injured when drivers left their vehicle running in the garage . According to the article, Toyota and Lexus vehicles have been involved in nearly half of these incidents. Lexus is the luxury division of Toyota.

Carbon monoxide is a colorless and odorless gas that can cause irreversible brain damage or death.

Toyota will add the engine stop feature to most of its 2020 model year vehicles.

The company did not want to say if past incidents were affecting its decision to add functionality. Toyota has stated that the keyless ignition systems of its cars meet or exceed all applicable federal safety standards.

This type of mistake is particularly easy to commit in hybrid vehicles because the gasoline engine of a hybrid often does not work when the vehicle does not move. This can make it difficult to know if the car has been stopped. If this is not the case, the gasoline engine will start after a while, as the car's batteries begin to discharge. This can even happen in non-hybrid vehicles, because many cars today have very quiet engines, almost inaudible at idle.

Keyless ignitions allow drivers to start their car by pressing a button as long as the remote key fob is inside the vehicle. This feature has been available in the US market since the early 2000s and is now widespread on new cars. Many new car models do not even offer the option of an ignition with keys.

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The company would not indicate how long the engine could remain running before shutting down automatically.

Toyota will also add more noticeable audible warnings and visual alerts to its new models so that drivers know the engine is running when they leave the vehicle, said the automaker. In the future, drivers will also have the option to be alerted via a smartphone app that the car is always on.

Toyota vehicles have had "engine over" warnings since 2003, the automaker said in its announcement. These new warnings will be "enhanced" with stronger sound alerts.

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Toyota will also add features to certain vehicles that will automatically place it in parking mode when the vehicle is stopped. This system will only be available on vehicles equipped with electronic gear selector rather than mechanical levers.

Other automakers have an auto-stop engine in keyless ignition vehicles, but not all of them. In 2015, General Motors recalled the Chevrolet Volt Rechargeable Hybrid Vehicle to add it after the company was informed of two carbon monoxide related incidents caused by people leaving cars powered up.

Toyota does not intend to add these features to previous models, said a spokeswoman.

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