Talking Cars 516: Is Your Car Getting a ‘Kill Switch’ in 2027?

Plus, the podcast panels discuss whether more in-car technology makes the roads less safe

By Keith Barry

Main theme: We’ve seen a lot of chatter online about a “car surveillance law” that is supposed to go into effect in 2027. There’s a lot of misinformation out there, but given the concerns over vehicle privacy and roadway deaths, it’s easy to see why the topic is getting so much attention.

Our experts break down what’s really happening, what’s misinformation, and why car buyers shouldn’t expect to see any so-called federally mandated kill switches any time soon.

Read: “No, Your Car Isn’t Getting a ‘Kill Switch’ in 2027.”

Audience question: Are safety features making drivers less safe? Do features like adaptive cruise control and lane centering encourage drivers to use their phones? Our safety experts dig into what the research says.

“Talking Cars” panelists (from left): Keith Barry, Maddie McCarty, and Mike Crossen.

Photo: Consumer Reports

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Recent Podcast Episodes

Why Are Cars Turning Into Smartphones?, episode 515
Driving the 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz, episode 514
• The State of the American Auto Industry, episode 513
• Driving the 2026 Subaru Uncharted, episode 512
• The Future of Rivian and Lucid, episode 511

Have a Question?

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