Absolute acceleration sensor for use within moving vehicles

A method of automatically turning off an idling engine of a vehicle, comprising:

• a. sensing a stationary status of the vehicle;
• b. activating an idling timer, with a deactivation time window;
• and
• c. detecting a transmission park-status of the vehicle;
• wherein if the vehicle is stationary the idling timer is activated, wherein the idling timer is configured to send a de-activation signal to turn off the engine once the deactivation time window has expired and the transmission park-status of the vehicle is confirmed, further wherein the idling timer is programmed to expire after a predetermined period of time.

A system located within a vehicle to automatically turn off an idling engine, comprising:

• a. a vehicle speed sensor configured to emit a periodic function with a frequency correlated to a stationary status of the vehicle;
• b. a transmission status detector to detect a transmission status of the vehicle;
• c. an emergency brake engagement detector to detect engagement of the emergency brake;
• d. an external temperature sensor to detect temperature of the external operating environment;
• e. an alerting device capable of warning other drivers of a stationary status of the vehicle;
• f. an idling timer which is activated after receiving a frequency correlated to the stationary status of the vehicle and programmed to send a de-activation signal once the timer has reached the end of its pre-programmed period;
• and
• g. a control device coupled to the vehicle speed sensor, the transmission status detector, the emergency brake engagement detector, the external temperature sensor, the alerting device and the idling timer, wherein the vehicle speed sensor, the transmission status detector, the emergency brake engagement detector, the external temperature sensor and the idling timer send a signal to the control device and the control device operates in a manner dependent on the stationary status of the vehicle, the transmission status of the vehicle, the emergency brake status of the vehicle, the temperature of the external operating environment and the expiration of the idling timer.