Licensed To Drive Slower

   By drodriguez  Oct 17, 2008
60

  Is the “My Key” feature something you would consider for your teenaged driver?

Everyone remembers the excitement they felt the first time they were in the driver’s seat.  Most of you probably could not wait until you turned sixteen so you could start cruising around in your parents’ (or if you were lucky enough, your very own) car.  

Not much has changed since then.  Teenagers are still rushing out to their DMV’s the day they turn sixteen.  But, what will soon change is the amount of control a parent can keep without setting foot in their child’s car.  Starting next year the Ford Motor Co. will begin selling a tool called “My Key” to help parents limit their child’s speed while behind the wheel.

A number of the Ford 2010 models will have this standard feature called “My Key”, allowing parents to set a maximum speed capacity on the car to 80 miles per hour.  This will all be done through a computer chip inside the car key.  The key’s chip will also have a function that limits the volume on the sound system and continuously reminds the driver if he/she is not wearing their seatbelt. 

For many parents, this may be the second best thing to riding shotgun next to their son or daughter.  Jim Buczkowski, Ford’s director of electronic and electrical systems engineering explained the idea behind the latest feature for new drivers to the Associated Press.  Buczkowski said, “Our message to parents is, hey, we are providing you some conditions to give your new drivers that may allow you to feel a little more comfortable in giving them the car more often.”

 What do you think of the new technology Ford will introduce to limit a teen driver’s speed?

 

Make a Comment

 
SHARE
Comments
MMaryrobertson4 by MMaryrobertson4 | PELLA, IA
Oct 21, 2008

80 mph? I agree with the others it should be the speed limit or 5 mph over.

I have a few years before my oldest starts to drive but both kids keep an eye on how we drive and how much over the speed limit we drive! They learn from us so we have to slow down also.

A defensive driving class isn't a bad idea - it's been a few years since I took drivers ed so I'm not sure what is taught now. I would hope that there was some of that taught. I tell my kids with anything that they do "It's not that I don't trust you but it's the other people that I wonder about." That way hopefully they think about what they are doing and others are doing before they jump in with the crowd.

TeeCee0328 by TeeCee0328 | Raleigh, NC
Oct 21, 2008

These are great features but I think that they can also give a false sense of security. I have "lived through" 4 teenage drivers. The type of accidents a couple of my kids and their friends have been involved in didn't involve speed - just purely inexperience. For example, "a light turns yellow as you are approaching at 50 mph...do I slam on the breaks and stop or speed up to make it through?" or someone else changing lanes quickly and they have over reacted and gone off the road or even someone backing into them in a parking lot. There are a lot of aggressive drivers out there and mix that with the inexperience of teenagers and I believe that is what causes a lot of accidents. North Carolina has the graduated drivers license and that is a great program - can't get a license with failing grades, can't have more than 1 other person in the car, can't drive after 11pm and can't get a ticket. This keeps most of them going the speed limit - they want that full license. A defensive driving class might be more helpful than the "drivers ed" program where they just drive for some many hours around town.

my4boyz98 by my4boyz98 | Huntington WV, WV
Oct 21, 2008

Love the idea...........hate the 80 mph! Are you kidding me? Easier to get a tattle tale kit and install it to send you a message if the child goes over the speed limit.

I would love this if it was limited to 70 mph. I do not think any speed limit is over 70 so that is a great option. Love the sound control as well as the seat belt reminded.

Though I wish they would design a key for older fords.....My teen has a ford escort so this would not work. Add the fact that I will never go buy my child a brand new vehicle. Most teens get second hand cars or used cars so I see this only being helpful for those who have nothing better to do with 30K then buy their kid a spanking new car ;-(

Salemsw by Salemsw | Millbury, MA
Oct 21, 2008

I think the idea is great but the 80 miles per hour is a little scary---Wait hold on not just a little scary --But way to scary!!!

shari489 by shari489 | Cicero, NY
Oct 20, 2008

It says you can set it to a maximum of 80 mph, I wonder if that means you have the ability to set it lower. I love the idea of this technology but I do have one concern - what is the warranty on it? It seems to me that all these great new bits of technology they keep adding to cars never seem to be covered under warranty and then cost a small fortune to get repaired.

coreyhsmom by coreyhsmom | SUMNER, WA
Oct 20, 2008

i am wondering why they have it set at 80. that seems alittle fast i know around my house the free way speed is only 65. so why dont they set it to 70. but be sides that i think it is a great idea.

KLEDWARDS2005 by KLEDWARDS2005 | LAMBSBURG, VA
Oct 20, 2008

I think this is really nice, but have a probley with 80mph. The highest they need to go is 65mph on the interstate. I think you should be able to set it back to 50 or 55 when on back roads.

nodeerhere by nodeerhere | BOYNTON BEACH, FL
Oct 19, 2008

This is a great idea and definitely, it should be a lower speed. Kids on the road are so dangerous!!

DeniseCa1 by DeniseCa1 | Long Beach, CA
Oct 19, 2008

It is interesting but alot of teen accidents happen when they are speeding through slower areas. It still lets a teen do 80 in a 40 mile an hour zone.

Lusadi by Lusadi | Wasilla, AK
Oct 19, 2008

If the speed is truly at 80 mph, I think it's fairly useless. That speed is above most national speed limits and would do nothing to limit damage/fatalities should the driver crash. Additionally, it's yet another electronic component that could malfunction. I would be worried about having something go wrong and affect the drivers ability to control the vehicle, possibly causing an accident.

tigereyes2001 by tigereyes2001 | Odenville, AL
Oct 18, 2008

I agree with pynoblem... why 80 mph? The highways around my town are 70 mph, but that's fast enough. A teen isn't experienced enough behind the wheel to be driving at 80 mph. Thankfully, my daughter is only 7, but it's encouraging to see that some companies (and hopefully more now that one has made that first step) are looking out for teen drivers. Hopefully by the time my daughter can drive, the age limit will be raised, or this "My Key" speed limit will be lowered.

Cropperhopper by Cropperhopper | SHARON, PA
Oct 18, 2008

It's a great idea, but why 80mgph? The highways are all 65 mgph. I want one for 65 mph.

ilikemovies by ilikemovies | Harrison, OH
Oct 18, 2008

Wow, great idea! I wish it would have been available when my kids were teenagers. I think this will catch on.

jenrik06 by jenrik06 | Hallock, MN
Oct 18, 2008

I've got a while before my kids are old enough to drive but, I'm excited to hear this technology is being developed to help parents. I think it's still important to be actively involved in your child's life especially the older they get. Discussing a number of topics including safe driving, consequences of bad driving, and following through with your own boundaries it very important in guiding young people to responsible choices. But with this new technology and tools offered by other companies will hopefully produce a new generation of drivers who will be wiser and safer behind the wheel.