Development of a Theft Deterrent Standard for Canada

Vehicle theft has been a rising problem in Canada for many years. This prompted the formation of a committee led by the Vehicle Information Centre of Canada to develop a Canadian standard [9]1 for vehicle security. The purpose of this paper is to outline the key features of the standard as well as the process involved in its development. In developing the standard, a number of existing documents world-wide were reviewed. The Canadian Standard will benefit vehicle owners, insurers and equipment suppliers in establishing a minimum level of performance for anti-theft devices. At the heart of the standard is a requirement for a core immobilization function, preventing the vehicle from being driven away under its own power. The standard is also structured in a modular fashion, allowing for its evolution in future revisions.