# New Ford safety feature ratted out hit & run driver **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 7, 2015, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-ford-safety-feature-ratted-out-hit-run-driver/739715 "2015-12-07T16:46:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Flyer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/flyer/32/7298_2.png) [@Flyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flyer)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2015, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-ford-safety-feature-ratted-out-hit-run-driver/739715/1 "2015-12-07T16:46:08Z")
> [@](#): > > 57-year-old woman Cathy Bernstein allegedly hit a truck before ploughing into a van on Prima Vista Boulevard, fleeing the scene after each collision. While Bernstein allegedly ran for the hills, her car had already recorded the crash and automatically contacted 911 after recording the time and date of the collision. > > The car’s safety features, used by by Ford, BMW and other automakers, make use of sensors and Internet connectivity to shave down the time emergency responders take to get to the scene of an accident. > **[Car calls 911 after alleged hit-and-run, driver arrested](https://www.zdnet.com/article/car-calls-911-after-alleged-hit-and-run-driver-arrested/)** > > A Ford safety feature has also turned out to be a way to track badly-behaved drivers. Interesting technology, and in this case everything worked out nicely. But since it relies on the internet, I’m wondering if it might be vulnerable to a variation of SWATing. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2015, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-ford-safety-feature-ratted-out-hit-run-driver/739715/2 "2015-12-07T17:12:16Z")
It didn’t work out nicely for _her_. I wonder how many people would try to disable that stuff if they were aware that their car could do such a thing. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2015, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-ford-safety-feature-ratted-out-hit-run-driver/739715/3 "2015-12-07T17:27:26Z")
You.Have.One.Point.Remaining.On.Your.License. _Fifth Element_, anyone? ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2015, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-ford-safety-feature-ratted-out-hit-run-driver/739715/4 "2015-12-07T17:38:43Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > It didn’t work out nicely for _her_. I wonder how many people would try to disable that stuff if they were aware that their car could do such a thing. Ford’s Sync system is subscription-based. If you don’t subscribe, I wonder if that also disables the automatic 911-dialing system. Some/All of their new cars that are Sync-capable come with a free trial subscription; I suppose your only recourse during that trial period would be to deliberately disable the system. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2015, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-ford-safety-feature-ratted-out-hit-run-driver/739715/5 "2015-12-07T17:49:01Z")
Oh, why did I register with Insta-Trace?! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2015, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-ford-safety-feature-ratted-out-hit-run-driver/739715/6 "2015-12-07T18:07:13Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > You.Have.One.Point.Remaining.On.Your.License. > > _Fifth Element_, anyone? I was thinking more along the lines of Robocop…“You have 30 seconds to park your now illegally driven vehicle…20…10…0…BLAM”… ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2015, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-ford-safety-feature-ratted-out-hit-run-driver/739715/7 "2015-12-07T18:09:15Z")
That is awesome. Bitch got what was coming to her. I wish that happened more often in real life. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2015, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-ford-safety-feature-ratted-out-hit-run-driver/739715/8 "2015-12-07T18:25:47Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > Ford’s Sync system is subscription-based. No it isn’t. SYNC Services are, but those are (IMO) only marginally useful; SYNC itself is all self-contained. [https://owner.ford.com/tools/account/how-tos/sync-services.html](https://owner.ford.com/tools/account/how-tos/sync-services.html) > [@](#): > > If you don’t subscribe, I wonder if that also disables the automatic 911-dialing system. 911 Assist doesn’t use SYNC Services. all it does is dial 911 via a paired cell phone if the Restraints Control Module (RCM) reports that it ordered airbag deployment. > [@](#): > > Some/All of their new cars that are Sync-capable come with a free trial subscription; I suppose your only recourse during that trial period would be to deliberately disable the system. You can manually set 911 Assist off from the settings menu in SYNC. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2015, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-ford-safety-feature-ratted-out-hit-run-driver/739715/9 "2015-12-07T22:17:14Z")
It may just be the march of technology, but Cathy Bernstein is about to take an unscheduled drive into . . . the Twilight Zone! [You Drive](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You_Drive), January 3, 1964 > [@](#): > > Before long, the vehicle seems to take on a mind of its own. The vehicle itself rebels against its owner: at first, when Ollie Pope is near the car, it honks its horn, flashes its lights, attempts to start on its own, drops its bumper, tries to close its hood on him, and repeats the radio newsflash of the boy’s death in an attempt to get Ollie’s attention. Then, while his wife is driving the car, it drives to the scene of the accident and stalls out, seemingly determined to get Pope to admit his guilt. Eventually as Pope starts walking to work so the car is not seen by police, the car leaves Pope’s garage on its own, chases him down the street in a rain storm and seems to be about to run him down. It stops just before doing this and the passenger door opens; Pope gets in and the car then drives him to the police station, where he walks in to confess. > [@Rod Serling](#): > > “All persons attempting to conceal criminal acts involving their cars are hereby warned: check first to see that underneath that chrome there does not lie a conscience, especially if you’re driving along a rain-soaked highway in the Twilight Zone” ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2015, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-ford-safety-feature-ratted-out-hit-run-driver/739715/10 "2015-12-07T22:20:51Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > No it isn’t. SYNC Services are, but those are (IMO) only marginally useful; SYNC itself is all self-contained. > > [https://owner.ford.com/tools/account/how-tos/sync-services.html](https://owner.ford.com/tools/account/how-tos/sync-services.html) > > 911 Assist doesn’t use SYNC Services. all it does is dial 911 via a paired cell phone if the Restraints Control Module (RCM) reports that it ordered airbag deployment. > > You can manually set 911 Assist off from the settings menu in SYNC. Maybe they can split it into two different services, SYNC and SNYCH. ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2015, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-ford-safety-feature-ratted-out-hit-run-driver/739715/11 "2015-12-07T23:48:13Z")
I wonder if this incident will dampen the spirits of all the techno-freaks who simply _can’t wait_ to get in a car completely controlled by “The Cloud” ®. Volunteering to become the first on their blocks to be **BORG**. Luckily, I will have a great excuse for not joining that party: I’ll be Dead!. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2015, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-ford-safety-feature-ratted-out-hit-run-driver/739715/12 "2015-12-08T00:01:19Z")
In my Honda it doesn’t rely on the internet. If it sense an accident (I assume it goes by the airbags going off, but there could be other things), it uses your bluetooth linked phone to call 911 and relays info to them that way. I have the option to turn that specific feature off (and still use bluetooth), but I really couldn’t think of any reason why I’d want too. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2015, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-ford-safety-feature-ratted-out-hit-run-driver/739715/13 "2015-12-08T00:25:46Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > I have the option to turn that specific feature off (and still use bluetooth), but I really couldn’t think of any reason why I’d want too. I bet the driver in the OP can think of one. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2015, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-ford-safety-feature-ratted-out-hit-run-driver/739715/14 "2015-12-08T00:43:51Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > It didn’t work out nicely for _her_. I wonder how many people would try to disable that stuff if they were aware that their car could do such a thing. I for one would seek to disable it, not because I’d like to run into people and disappear though. I’m afraid that any system that can access the internet can be accessed by the internet. What’s stopping a hacker from sending “full speed ahead” or “engine off” signals to everyone’s car on the freeway at rush hour? I used to use an interrupt that turned off the electric fuel pump and rendered the car inoperative as a “cheap” anti theft device. I’d switch a hidden switch and the fuel pump would not activate if someone tried to start the car. Now I see that the car will notify the police every time the fuel pump is switched off (as automatically happens in a roll over type accident). This actually might end up being funny if it wasn’t a waste of police time responding to my “anti theft device.” ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2015, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-ford-safety-feature-ratted-out-hit-run-driver/739715/15 "2015-12-08T00:58:27Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > I for one would seek to disable it, not because I’d like to run into people and disappear though. I’m afraid that any system that can access the internet can be accessed by the internet. What’s stopping a hacker from sending “full speed ahead” or “engine off” signals to everyone’s car on the freeway at rush hour? in most cases that can’t happen; at least with current versions of SYNC the 911 assist uses a Bluetooth-paired phone to make the call. There is literally no way to make the phone send data/commands over bluetooth which SYNC would then somehow convert to CAN messages to control the car. Now, the big fuckup Chrysler had with UConnect was via its embedded modem, and some really bush league mistakes in the code/architecture (meaning, open TCP ports.) I can assure you that UConnect exploit was an “oh shit!” moment for the entire industry. > [@](#): > > I used to use an interrupt that turned off the electric fuel pump and rendered the car inoperative as a “cheap” anti theft device. I’d switch a hidden switch and the fuel pump would not activate if someone tried to start the car. Now I see that the car will notify the police every time the fuel pump is switched off (as automatically happens in a roll over type accident). This actually might end up being funny if it wasn’t a waste of police time responding to my “anti theft device.” that wouldn’t trigger it. Ford vehicles used to have an “inertia switch” which would cut off power to the fuel pump in a collision. On modern ones, the restraints control module (RCM) issues the command to the PCM to disable the fuel pump in the event of a severe enough collision. the 911 Assist feature would only place an emergency call if the fuel pump cutoff was commanded by the RCM. You turning it off via a switch wouldn’t do it. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2015, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-ford-safety-feature-ratted-out-hit-run-driver/739715/16 "2015-12-08T00:59:33Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > I for one would seek to disable it, not because I’d like to run into people and disappear though. I’m afraid that any system that can access the internet can be accessed by the internet. What’s stopping a hacker from sending “full speed ahead” or “engine off” signals to everyone’s car on the freeway at rush hour? A billion things, including the fact that the software wouldn’t have that capability. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2015, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-ford-safety-feature-ratted-out-hit-run-driver/739715/17 "2015-12-08T01:06:23Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#): > > A billion things, including the fact that the software wouldn’t have that capability. SYNC, no. Software like UConnect, [not so much](http://www.wired.com/2015/07/hackers-remotely-kill-jeep-highway/) ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2015, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-ford-safety-feature-ratted-out-hit-run-driver/739715/18 "2015-12-08T01:08:06Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#): > > A billion things, including the fact that the software wouldn’t have that capability. > **[Hackers Remotely Kill a Jeep on the Highway—With Me in It](https://www.wired.com/2015/07/hackers-remotely-kill-jeep-highway/)** > > I was driving 70 mph on the edge of downtown St. Louis when the exploit began to take hold. it’s different because that version of UConnect has an embedded cellular modem, and an attacker would need to know certain things before even being able to “find” the car on the internet, but there were some real rookie mistakes in there which enabled it. Honestly, while I see the appeal in “gee whiz” features like being able to see diagnostic/performance data from the center stack display, the problem with it is that CAN was never, ever, _ever_ meant to be world-facing. It’s great at the job it was designed for; a robust, fault-tolerant, real-time communications bus between modules on a closed network. But what that UConnect system did was build a bridge from that network to the outside world, and forgot to put a guard at the bridge. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2015, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-ford-safety-feature-ratted-out-hit-run-driver/739715/19 "2015-12-08T14:03:11Z")
> [@usedtobe](#): > > Luckily, I will have a great excuse for not joining that party: I’ll be Dead!. Until then, your username is perhaps a bit premature. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2015, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-ford-safety-feature-ratted-out-hit-run-driver/739715/20 "2015-12-08T14:23:53Z")
> [@TBG](#): > > I bet the driver in the OP can think of one. Only if she bought the car with plan of running people down (or at least knowing in advance that if she got into an accident, she’d take off if were a viable option). [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-ford-safety-feature-ratted-out-hit-run-driver/739715.md?page=2)