OnStar has announced a bold new technology that can activate at the request of law enforcement and bring a high speed chase to a rapid halt by disconnecting the accelerator of a stolen vehicle.

OnStar’s new Stolen Vehicle Slowdown is being hailed by police and emergency responders as a major safety tool that will help save lives. There are more than 30,000 high speed chases in the U.S. each year, resulting in some 300 fatalities. The technology will be introduced on 1.7 million GM models starting next year. I got a sneak peek at how it works at the General Motors Proving Grounds in Milford. Here’s a special edition of the Techcast that shows you how it works: