Police Minister Mark Ryan says Queensland has succeeded in having the issue of Remote Engine Immobilisers put on the agenda for discussion at a national level.
The immobilisers, which police could activate if a vehicle was stolen, will be discussed at the next Ministerial Council of Police and Emergency Management Ministers.
Mr Ryan said that with the rapid development of in-car technologies, it was time to start a conversation about how to improve road safety.
“Remote Engine Immobilisers could be used to slow and take control of a stolen car and thereby greatly reduce the possibility of high-speed chases involving police,” he said.
Mr Ryan said the technology had been available for installation in private vehicles since 2009 in the United States and Canada.
RACQ Technical and Safety director Steve Spalding said as these technologies became more common, there was an opportunity to reduce the high-risk situations which occurred when a vehicle was stolen.
“Future vehicle technologies, particularly as we move towards connected and autonomous cars, will have greater capabilities to be remotely tracked and safely controlled,” Mr Spalding said.
“The technology exists. We need to see manufacturers adopt it more widely and show consumers how it can make their vehicles safer and more secure.”
Queensland Police Union president Ian Leavers has been advocating for the technology for the past five years.
“This remote engine immobiliser technology is available right now,” Mr Leavers said.
“If we mandated it in all new cars sold, as we have previously done with ABS brakes and airbags, then it a few years’ time, most cars on the road would possess this technology, so I call on all governments across Australia to support our proposals.”
Minister Ryan said getting the issue on the Ministerial Council agenda was a good start but many challenges laid ahead.
It would be a significant political issue involving several branches of government as well as all car manufacturers operating in the Australian market.
