According to an AP story, beginning in 2009, police chasing new General Motors' (NYSE: GM) cars equipped with the OnStar system will be able to remotely take control over the car's accelerator, slowing it to a safe stop, perhaps while broadcasting a warning to the perp over the car radio.

The technology is already established. You've probably seen the Tiger Woods ad for General Motors, where he's locked out of his car only to discover that, through GM's OnStar service, the company can remotely unlock his car for him. The service also offers hands-free calling, GPS directions, vehicle diagnostics, and feedback on your makeup and hair.

The OnStar service is already used to track equipped stolen cars, leading to the recovery of hundreds each month. The fly in the ointment here, though, is that owners of these cars will have to buy into the $200-a-year OnStar package after the initial free first year, and the company has only a 60% conversion rate to date. I wouldn't be surprised, however, to see insurance companies lowering rates for OnStar-equipped cars, which would help offset the cost.

Given this capability, I wonder how receptive parents would be to installing such control devices on their teenager's cars. I can imagine them sitting at home, remotely putting their foot on the brake whenever the child appears to be speeding, all the while passing along "helpful" hints via the car radio. For businesses, perhaps company cars could be controlled to deny the driver the ability to stop near golf courses or girlie bars.

The continued development of this technology seems to keep us on the path toward turning over control of our vehicles to a wireless network. Is that a good or bad thing?

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