Smart key is the electronic locking system used in the cars and is first introduced by Mercedes-Benz in 1999. The key is identified through one of several antennas in the car’s bodywork and a radio pulse generator in the key housing.
Through the use of smart key, the ignition is started electronically and the drivers can keep the key fob in their pockets while unlocking, locking and starting the vehicle. The driver must have the key with them inside the car before the engine can be started. Vehicle is locked either by touching a capacitive area on the door or by pressing a button on one of the door handles or by simply walking away from the vehicle equipped with the electronic key system.
Since 1992, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 114, ordered automakers to prevent the key from being removed from the ignition, unless the transmission is in Park. This has been intended to prevent the unexpected roll away of motor vehicles.
In 2006, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, bought the rule of using electronic keys in the vehicles, and because of the electronic keys lot of car riders in America are facing problems with the many of the top model cars. For example Mrs. Taylor raised a suit against Nissan filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California saying that Nissan’s system did not match with the federal safety standard to prevent roll-away accidents, this is because of the problem she faced with the smart key system in the Nissan Murano.