walking away from a running prius

With a rash of carjacking recently in Memphis (one person was murdered), this could be turned into a safety feature as a "carjack mode".

If the car can run a limited distance without the fob then the carjacker would be able to get away from his victim. After running about a mile the car shutsdown at the next stop. The search area to recover the car would be limited and made easier. Perhaps with DVD Nav and bluetooth the car can call and tell where it stopped. With the computer controls in the Prius is should only require a program change in the ECUs.

 

Driving away with a running prius, without the key

This a.m. my daughter dropped me off at work and then drove 1.5 miles back home before discovering that I did not leave her the key. I always assumed that if you attempted to drive away a running Prius without the key, that it would shut off. Apparently not. Twice since I bought it in August 2007, I mistakenly left it running. Once for over two hours while attending a daughter's basketball game, and once for four hours parked at work. (Somehow it didn't register with me both times that I couldn't lock the car; I was in a hurry.) As I've checked with other Prius and Camry Hybrid owners, the average for forgetting to shut the car off and walking away is twice. So what do we know about this risk? Can you drive the running Prius without a key until emptying the gas tank? That can make for a lengthy joyride. This is a minor, amusing quirk. Are there any planned changes to address this issue in future models? I've loved my 2007 Prius! With the gas prices soaring, the car feels like one of the best investments I've ever made.

 

You can drive until you shut down, after which the Prius will not start without the key. This was done for safety reasons. Think about it for a minute and the reasoning will be obvious: what would happen if you were driving in traffic and the battery died in your smart key? Nothing, which is good.

A running Prius complains if you get out with the key. Unfortunately it's just another beep code, which means you are likely to confuse it with other warnings. Still, it does complain, and the actions are predictable and reasonable.

Tom

 

While I have left the car "on" and dashed inside a store for a quick stop (trying to avoid the start-up ICE cycle), does anyone know if a person could take the FOB with you and manually lock the car with the key?
To restate this...car is "on" (ready to drive), get out with FOB in pocket (car will beep 3x I believe), manually lock car with key for added security.
Will that work?

 

Yes, this will work.

Tom

 

qbee,

I had thought of the same scenario. Once in motion, you don't want the car cutting out at a predetermined maximum distance because of the dangers that would pose. The car does beep to prompt you about it still running. Even for slow learners like me, after we leave it running twice, we seem to learn to respond both to the beeping and the inability to lock the car. Still, would it be a useful safety feature to not allow you to put the car in motion from the park setting without the key in the vehicle? For the most part, I'd say that it's more convenient to be able to move the car without the key, once started? Other thoughts?

 

That sounds reasonably safe, while keeping owners from driving off without keys. You could also use some sort of voice prompt and an MFD warning. I like that idea.

Tom

 

I lock my car with it running every now and then for various reasons. I actually did it yesterday. I was driving away from my office and forgot a fax so I turned around and ran into my office quick. I just hit the auto drivers window button as I'm exciting, close the door, reach in to hit the electric lock, then hit the auto up button on the window. When I get back I just use the key to open the door.

When loading up for road trips in the middle of our AZ summer I'll often run the car while I'm doing my last minute packing so I can get the interior of the car cool for the kids since they'll be in the backseat. I'm usually getting their snacks lined up in there, a small cooler, a portable dvd, both car seats, etc and it's nice to have a cool car while I'm packing all this junk in... plus starting off with a cool interior is a nice beginning to a long road trip... anyway, during these times my Prius will be idling the longest, much of which are with the doors locked.

Mike

 

This is an interesting thread that makes me think of a question. I am a relative newbie, so please don't flame me on this.

If the battery on the smart key goes out, the car may be entered by using the mechanical key. How is the car started once you are able to get in?

I have removed the mechanical key at the car wash to ensure I have a way to get in if the car is somehow locked by mistake while leaving the smart key in the slot. So if only the smart key is required to start the car without the mechanical key in place, how does it start with a dead battery in the smart key?

 

You can drive the car without the key, but can't you hear that infernal beep that occurs when the car doesn't have the key in range and is left on?

 

New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law Article 33, section 1210

Don't do it!

§ 1210. Unattended motor vehicle. (a) No person driving or in charge of a motor vehicle shall permit it to stand unattended without first stopping the engine, locking the ignition, removing the key from the vehicle, and effectively setting the brake thereon and, when standingupon any grade, turning the front wheels to the curb or side of the highway, provided, however, the provision for removing the key from the vehicle shall not require the removal of keys hidden from sight about the vehicle for convenience or
emergency.

 

Why not ? Other than some law originally written for "old fashioned cars"....

Prius stops it's own engine when not needed.

How often do you think someone gets charged under this ? Versus how often do people do this regardless of, or ignorant of the law ?

IMO, if someone feels it makes them or their family members safer, they should feel free to disregard this law, as long as they are willing to take the IMO very low risk they would be charged.

 

Well, tongue in cheek, lets tackle this...
I don't live in NY (Indiana might have a simular law-I don't know or even care)

§ 1210. Unattended motor vehicle. (a) No person driving or in charge of a motor vehicle shall permit it to stand unattended without first stopping the engine (engine stops when I stop the car), locking the ignition, removing the key from the vehicle (I do not put a key in my Prius ignition), and effectively setting the brake thereon and, when standingupon any grade, turning the front wheels to the curb or side of the highway, provided, however, the provision for removing the key from the vehicle shall not require the removal of keys hidden from sight about the vehicle for convenience or emergency.

Of course, I could leave the FOB in the car and just take the metal key and be (mostly) in compliant.

If I'm MOSTLY in compliant it is a huge improvement

 

I may be wrong, but....if your car gets stolen and you left it running, and unattended, can the insurance company try and bail out of helping with any problems than ensue?

 

It's not a matter of what the Prius does. It's a matter of car theft. If it's not running and it's lock, chances are a bit better that it will not get stolen. Ever heard the story of the Soccer mom running in for something quick? One of the snot gobblers, knocks the car in to gear or locks mom out of the car??
I know of a Police Department in Rockland County, NY where the police officers would wait (in the parking lot of a bagel store) for people to leave their cars in the Fire Zone, running. Whamm, two tickets and the cops is on his way to a new micro wave.
People do this all the time, stand out in front of any coffee shop, mini mart, gas station to see this first hand.
If I was looking to steal a car, these are places I'd wait for my opportunity to come along.
You may not get a ticket, but you may not have a car either.

By the way I leave my car running in my driveway in the winter, to warm it up and get the ice and snow off of it.
Guilty! __________________

 

That's a terrific question. Any insurance experts to comment? Seems to me that if you leave your keys in a conventional type car, with the motor running, and it gets stolen, that you are still covered for theft. Or are you?

 

You've made your point. "I don't know or even care"

 

Negligence, is no excuse. If you leave the keys in your car while it's running and unattended you're at fault!