Car Keys

PROBLEM:


Today I locked my keys in the car.  It was unbelievably inconvenient, and I was very lucky I had a spare back in my room.  I realized that this problem happens far too often.  I don't have a remote transmitter that locks the door, so I have to use the button on the inside of the door to lock my car door.  This method is an error waiting to happen.  It is too easy for me to jump out of the car, lock the door, and then realize too late that my keys are still in the car.  This time I even left the keys sitting in the ignition.

SOLUTION:


With the technology of today's car keys, this problem shouldn't be hard to deal with.  Modern cars can usually detect whether or not a key is inside the car.  Some cars use this technology to allow drivers to start the car with a button as long as the key is inside.  Using this same technology, a car's locking mechanism could be activated only if the key is far enough away from the car.  A car could even do this automatically.  As the driver walks away, and the key gets out of the range of the car's sensors (maybe 4 or 5 feet), the doors could lock until the driver is back within range.  This system would take the human error out of the system and automate the simple process of locking and unlocking car doors.