A series of commercials have brought a disturbing, yet somewhat baffling, trend to the light of day. Personally, I had no idea such a trend existed, but I hear these commercials day after day, hour after hour, and I’m really starting to wonder if we are truly advancing as a society.

The commercials are for a product or service called OnStar . General Motors now offers it on more than 50 of its models. From what I can gather, OnStar is sort of a concierge for the car. It’s a combination GPS tracking system and butler. Car owners lose a bit of privacy, but they can call OnStar for anything ranging from flat tire repair to restaurant reservations. I have to admit, the concept is intriguing.

The disturbing part is that just about every commercial for this product seems to involve some poor sap that’s locked his kids in the car. OnStar creators have chosen a marketing campaign to play actual recorded calls they have received. I guess the problem is the only interesting calls come from the morons who have figured out a way to continually lock their kids in their cars with keyless entry.

First of all, how does this happen? How does a car get locked these days when the only way to lock the car is with a push button remote?

Second, I find these commercials a little hard to believe speaking from a personal perspective. If I couldn’t remember not to lock my kids in the car, then I’m certainly not going to remember the phone number for OnStar . Chances are that my cell phone will be sitting in the locked car with the kids. I’d just have to break a window, then call OnStar for a repairman. Don’t get me wrong. I’m glad someone can unlock the doors for these people. I’m just not sure these people should be driving, much less given access to such advanced technology.

In the same vein, OnStar operators can blink the lights and blow the horn of a car lost in a vast parking lot. On the surface this sounds wonderful. I mean, who hasn’t lost a car in a mall parking lot at some point in their life? But, again, I refer to my personal perspective. If I can’t remember where my car is, then I’m not going to remember the phone number for OnStar . I’d just have to walk the parking lot the old fashioned way.

I’m sure the makers of OnStar had a little higher clientele in mind when they designed this product. They offer automatic emergency notification when air bags are deployed, remote diagnostics, roadside assistance, and many other fantastic services. They can even give local forecasts or find a designated driver for their tipsy customers. I’m just not sure OnStar executives are attracting the geniuses of the world by shining a spotlight on distracted parents, grandparents, and guardians. I’d find a different focus group.

Maybe they could direct attention to the giving directions part of their services. I know my life would be a whole lot easier if my wife could just punch a button for directions instead of sending me into the local Circle K to find out how to get from Point A to Point B.

I suggest OnStar continue setting kids free from the locked cars of the world, but please keep their parents off the airwaves.