The release of carbon monoxide from keyless ignition cars have threatened the lives of seventy three people, with the deaths of twenty eight people. The increasing number of people with keyless ignition cars have grown to about half of all vehicles sold this year. Despite their innovation and potential benefits, drivers have been killed after forgetting to turn off the engines of their car.

Drivers used to smooth running, quiet cars have become forgetful in the face of turning their cars off, allowing their engines to release a the toxic gas carbon monoxide. The gas gathers in their garages, and those inside the house can be exposed to seepage, causing serious injuries such as brain damage and even death. Among them includes Fred Shuab, who left his engine on one night and was killed from the inhalation of carbon monoxide.

“After seventy five years of driving, my father thought that when he took the key with him when he left the car, the car would be off,” Doug Schaub, the son of a Fred Schaub, said.

This problem was also addressed in 2015, when the amount of carbon monoxide leaks in homes led to the death of thirteen people. Recalls of cars were demanded by customers, leading to General Motors and Chevrolet to issue a full recall of 64,000 cars for being too quiet, making drivers forget about their engines being left on.

At that time, Ford Motor Company also issued a statement: “Ford takes the safety of our customers very seriously; the keyless ignition system has proven to be a safe and reliable innovative feature that has been well-received by customers. Ford vehicles equipped with keyless ignition alert drivers when the driver’s door is open and the vehicle’s engine is running.”

Toyota and Lexus models have been the most common in all the carbon monoxide fatalities, identified for being responsible in half of all total deaths. Automakers are currently designing new models that alert a driver consistently if their cars are left running. Other steps to saving lives have included Ford’s new features to automatically turn off engines if left unattended for more than 30 minutes.

“We’re going to continue to see deaths and injuries,” said Sean Kane, founder of Safety Research and Strategies, an auto safety research group. “And the manufacturers will continue to settle cases.”

Various companies have continued to solve the problems of carbon monoxide poisoning for customers.