Ford "MyKey" keeps teen drivers under 80 mph

[one...two...tree 2,762]

The new, chip-embedded car keys will also keep young drivers from cranking the car stereo, as well as sound alarms until seat belts get fastened. Looks like the carefree days of "American Graffiti" are over, in more ways than one.The Associated Press reports that an "unspecified number" of 2010 model Ford cars and trucks (including the 2010 Ford Focus, due next year) will come with the MyKey feature, which will eventually get rolled out to all Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury models.

Besides the option of keeping young drivers from going over 80 miles per hour (leaving a slight buffer over most state speeding limits "in case an unusual situation arises," the AP notes), parents can also set MyKey to sound in-car alerts if their kids accelerate past 45, 55, or 65 miles per hour.

Among other possible MyKey restrictions: A volume limit for the car radio (to "44 percent of totally volume"), along with chimes that sound once a minute (and mute the radio) until drivers and passengers buckle their seat belts.

Naturally, teens aren't amused by the coming MyKey feature; indeed, a Ford survey found that 67 percent of teen drivers "don't like" the idea (no kidding). Then again, when asked to factor in the possibility that MyKey might give them more chances behind the wheel, the "hate it" figure drops to 36 percent, according to Ford's survey.

OK, but are built-in speed limits for cars really a good idea? You could argue that all drivers need to be able to accelerate away from danger—especially if you're trying to pass a line of cars while facing oncoming traffic.

That said, I can't remember the last time I truly needed to speed beyond 80 mph, for any reason. And then there's this sobering statistic (PDF): More than 6,500 fatal car crashes last year involved drivers aged 15-20, while speeding was a factor in 31 percent of all fatal crashes in 2007.

So, parents and teens … what do you think? Are set-in-stone speeding limits a good idea? What about the car radio and seat-belt restrictions? And for the teens: Would you accept a MyKey if it meant getting more chances to drive?

http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/patterson/28279

[Ban Hammer 13,356]

i just heard about this from a co-worker.

[almaty 19]

interesting concept..but youngsters figure away to get around it...

Edited October 7, 2008 by almaty

[Ling Ling 22]

Just glad I didn't have that growing up...not that I can remember driving a car THEN that could go much over 80mph.

As for is a fixed speed limit of 80mph good...I think so.

Given that the max on the interstate is 75mph, and given that no typical driver's education program will teach driving at speeds above 55mph,

yeah...it's perfectly fine.

Matter of fact, I think that nobody should be allowed to drive over 75mph without proper training.

I've done some amateur racing, and have driven over 150mph on a road coarse.

I feel very comfortable driving at 75mph or even 110mph if there's no traffic.

One of my cars is capable (and tested) of achieving 171mph.

Side note-a friend offered to drive one of my cars from Chicago to Cleveland.

My mechanic is in Cleveland, and my friend bought a new car in Columbus (they actually trailered his car to Cleveland for no charge).

So it was a great deal for both of us. He saves airfare, I save a drive or a flatbed to Cleveland.

I was having a little problem with the head gasket...but only when the supercharger was under boost.

I told my friend that as long as he "babied" the car, and drove without going into boost (no fast full throttle) he wouldn't have a problem.

Well, he doesn't even get through Indiana, and he gets pulled over for doing 96mph.

My friend blames the car for the ticket.

I'm thinking, 75mph is fast, 85mph is really fast, 96mph is racing fast...NOT babying the car.

Anyway, he got a $360 ticket he'd like me to split, and I'm wishing I could get a "My Key".

[EstebanTrabajos 7]

kudos! they shouldn't be given a license until they turn 18 anyways hihi

sorry but I've seen sooo many stupid mistakes made by these so called "young" drivers that I'm a little bit biased

Edited October 7, 2008 by GueraYTavo

[Saddle Bronc 124]

interesting concept..but youngsters figure away to get around it...

My prediction...it'll be defective, keeping the meaning of "Ford" (fix or repair daily) intact.

[akdiver 3]

Minimum age to receive a driver's license should be 18 anyway.

[SteveLaura 0]

Minimum age to receive a driver's license should be 18 anyway.

Agreed.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Minimum age to receive a driver's license should be 18 anyway.

Agreed.

...and part of the written test should determine whether you have anarchist tendencies.

[almaty 19]

i think 16 is a good age to drive..in kansas some kids could drive at age 14...(rural)

[lucyrich 20]

How can they make it so that parents can program it and kids can't unprogram it? Most 16 year olds I know are better with computers than their parents.

Why not make the 80 mph speed limit work for EVERY driver of the car? Why should mom and dad be allowed to drive 90 while junior can only drive 80?

I went to the original AP story and found this cute quote:

Brittany Hawthorne, 17, another Southfield-Lathrup senior, said there may be emergency situations where she'd have to drive more than 80, possibly to accelerate to avoid a crash.

Hey Brittany, here's a hint. Accelerating to 85 isn't the most effective way to avoid a crash.

[akdiver 3]

A perfect example of why children should not be permitted to operate a motor vehicle.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

How can they make it so that parents can program it and kids can't unprogram it? Most 16 year olds I know are better with computers than their parents.

Why not make the 80 mph speed limit work for EVERY driver of the car? Why should mom and dad be allowed to drive 90 while junior can only drive 80?

I went to the original AP story and found this cute quote:

Brittany Hawthorne, 17, another Southfield-Lathrup senior, said there may be emergency situations where she'd have to drive more than 80, possibly to accelerate to avoid a crash.

Hey Brittany, here's a hint. Accelerating to 85 isn't the most effective way to avoid a crash.

LOL.... I think the chip will be much like the ones used in Cable boxes, DVD players and some TV's, which requires a pin to bypass and customized settings.

I like the idea behind it. There's certainly a lot of potential....not just in restricting the use of the car but it could also prevent theft.