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OnStar FMV Wins Praise from Crash Survivor

“OnStar should be mandatory on every vehicle” says Nissan Sentra owner

2011-10-24

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DETROIT – In one of the first documented crashes to occur in a vehicle equipped with OnStar FMV, the new aftermarket rearview mirror helped connect the crash victim to both emergency assistance and his wife.

Joseph Cortez was driving through a Los Angeles intersection last week in his Nissan Sentra, when another driver ran a red light and crashed into Cortez’s driver side door. While not critically injured, Cortez was unable to exit the vehicle and was experiencing sharp pain in his shoulder.

“I was in so much pain. I didn’t have my bearings. I didn’t know which way I was facing or how hurt I was. I was thinking there was no way I can make these phone calls and let someone know where I am at,” said Cortez.

Following the crash, he was automatically connected to OnStar, where one OnStar Advisor provided Emergency Medical Dispatch instructions, while another Advisor contacted 9-1-1 and directed first responders to the scene. First responders arrived on scene within 10 minutes of the crash.

 “I’ve only had OnStar FMV for three weeks and this accident already showed me its value,” said Cortez. “OnStar should be mandatory and standard on every vehicle.”

FMV, an acronym of For My Vehicle, is compatible with 90 million vehicles on the road.

After OnStar Advisors completed their initial assessment, and as Cortez waited for first responders to arrive, an OnStar Advisor conferenced Cortez’s wife, Grace, into the vehicle through the FMV system so the two could speak to each other.

“I’m okay,” Cortez said to his wife through the OnStar speakers, “Thank [goodness], I put this OnStar in.”

OnStar engineers conducted extensive testing of an Automatic Crash Response system that would fit inside the OnStar FMV mirror and reliably detect collisions above a pre-determined threshold in vehicles of different shapes and sizes. The process for validating OnStar FMV’s crash response system was similar to the process used when testing crash response in traditional OnStar. A multitude of crash tests on FMV-equipped General Motors and non-GM vehicles was performed at the GM Proving Ground in Milford, Mich. to ensure the system’s reliability. This video that showcases one of those tests and explains how Automatic Crash Response works in FMV.

The crash response module in OnStar FMV contains two sensors that detect lateral (side-to-side) and longitudinal (front-to-back) motion, providing the ability to detect impacts to a vehicle both from the sides as well as the front or rear. Sophisticated software algorithms analyze data from these sensors to determine if a crash has occurred. These algorithms are designed to discern actual above-threshold impacts from non-impact events such as running over a curb, hard braking, or travelling over rough terrain. When a crash is detected, OnStar FMV makes an automatic cellular connection to trained OnStar Emergency Advisors, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, who immediately contact emergency first responders and advise them to dispatch to the mirror’s GPS location – even if the driver is injured and unable to ask for help.

“We’ve provided assistance in more than 180,000 Automatic Crash Response incidents since the first OnStar system was introduced in 1996, helping to save many lives,” Greg Ross, OnStar vice president of Business Extensions. “Now, this umbrella of protection is expanded with OnStar FMV, as shown by the assistance provided to Mr. Cortez in California.”

OnStar FMV recently received the Good Housekeeping Seal, a symbol of assurance that the product sufficiently meets all of the claims on its packaging and marketing materials. It has a suggested retail price of $299.99, plus installation. Service plans for OnStar FMV are $18.95 a month or $199 a year for the Safe and Sound Plan, or $28.90 a month, or $299 a year for the Directions and Connections Plan.

OnStar FMV offers a range of security and convenience features beyond Automatic Crash Response, including:

• Turn-by-Turn Navigation, OnStar’s most-popular service with 2.5 million requests a month is accessible by simply pressing the blue button. The driver asks the advisor for directions for a specific address or location, such as a gas station or restaurant. Directions are downloaded to OnStar FMV, which provides spoken turn-by-turn instructions to the destination.
• Hands-Free Calling is available through the OnStar service itself with the purchase of minutes, or through a Bluetooth connection to a mobile phone. An external microphone, which is tucked into the roofline or above the overhead console, gives the best-possible voice quality while drivers keeps their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road.
• Stolen Vehicle Location Assistance uses FMV’s global positioning satellite system to provide a stolen vehicle’s location to law enforcement officials.
• Emergency Services, summoned by pushing the red button, bring specially trained emergency advisors on the line immediately to help in a crisis, such as witnessing a collision or a crime in progress.
• Roadside Assistance for non-emergency situations, such as a mechanical breakdown or a flat tire, is a blue-button push away.
• Virtual Advisor. Using only their voices, drivers can request custom traffic, weather and stock reports.

Retailers offering OnStar FMV include Best Buy, Car Toys, Crutchfield, Fry’s Electronics, Al & Ed’s Autosound, P.C. Richard & Son and more. Customers can find out if OnStar FMV is compatible with their vehicle through an online Vehicle Selector. More information is available at OnStar.com.

About OnStar

OnStar, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Motors, is the leading provider of connected safety and security solutions, value-added mobility services and advanced information technology. Available on more than 40 MY 2011 GM models, OnStar is also available for installation on most other vehicles on the road through a new retail product called OnStar FMV (For My Vehicle). OnStar FMV has been awarded the Good Housekeeping Seal. The OnStar RemoteLink Mobile App is a recipient of the 2011 Edison Award for Best New Product in the Remote Driving Aids segment. OnStar safely connects its more than six million customers, in the U.S., Canada and China, in ways never thought possible. More information about OnStar can be found at www.onstar.com.

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