The Ignition Lock Debacle Is Not Really GM's Fault - More Insurance Companies

It is clear to all concerned by now, that the GM Ignition Switch debacle is one of the most sensational news stories of the year.

Locksmiths who work on automobiles have known of these issues for many years and have informed powers that be, in the recent past.

The reports fell on deaf ears, as usual and only since the reports of deaths have authorities bothered to press the issues with manufacturers.

I do find it interesting that it seems the automobile industry appears to have come full circle, with regard to ignition systems.

When the first automobiles were rolling off the production lines, in the early 20th century, all vehicles had the ignition lock switch mounted to the dash, usually toward the center of the instrument panel. This was significantly easier for people to control and away from the possibility of being knocked by a knee or leg. Many ignition tumbler switches were pin tumbler operating systems and not wafer/disc tumblers. Properties inside the cylinder prevented the accidental knocking and turning off the keyswitch.

It was the advent of the insurance companies that brought about a major change
in the way manufacturers were required, through government legislation to modify the ignition systems.

Insurance companies during the 50's & 60's were seeing a large quantity of automobile theft and this prompted them to collectively lobby the federal government to apply new security standards to the automobile manufacturing industry.

Specifically, the introduction of steering wheel locks and column mounted ignition keyswitches that controlled these locks. Almost all automobile manufacturers complied with the new rules to enable a continuing market share in the worlds largest economy. That was the late 60's and early 70's.

Significantly, the middle to late 90's also saw a resurgence in insurance company lobbying that forced the government to require all automobile manufacturers to install crash protection airbags in vehicles.

While being a life protecting mechanism, little thought was given, by insurance companies to the problems airbags had when connected to a vehicles electrical system. Combine this with the insurance companies push to further enhance vehicle security, by lobbying the government to force manufacturers to include anti-theft transponder chips in keys and locks all in the aim to reduce the insurance companies losses due to theft of vehicles.

The full circle turn I talked about earlier is the resurgence of dash mounted ignition switches. Instead of the key switch, manufacturers are using a start/stop button conveniently located on the instrument pane/dash. This reinstates the ages old dash mounted ignition system.

It used to cost only a few dollars to make a duplicate automobile key. Nowadays it can average $100-$300 just for a duplicate key in some makes and originating a key (when you have lost one) can cost up to $1500 depending on the make of vehicle.

The issues above are direct results of insurance companies forcing changes to bolster their profits and provide avenues to reduce the amount of money they have to spend to protect us all. All these "so called" improvements that the insurance companies are making on our behalf, one would think they would reduce premiums and the cost of insurance protection but no, they continue to increase our costs of insurance and consequently the expense of owning almost any property today.