Thoughts on a controlling car
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A car to force new teenage drivers to turn the radio down, watch their speed and wear a seat belt?
Seems like something of the future, but Ford is planning to roll one out in 2010.
The 2010 Focus will not go over 80 mph, continuously beep if a seat belt is warn and can keep the radio at 40 percent of max volume.
With MyKey technology – that’s the stuff being used here to make this a standard package in the Focus – the radio will also not even come on until all seat belts are snapped in to place.
Oh, and if parents want, they can set the car to ding at 45, 55 and 65 mph.
In the future MyKey will also come standard in other Ford, Lincoln and Mercury models.
OK. Great.
Well aware that accidents are the No. 1 cause of death. Also aware that teenagers are inattentive and bad drivers. – Not all. But most.
But I feel it’s my duty to pick this idea apart.
No. 1 – driving is a privilege. If a parent doesn’t trust their teenager to be responsible on the road, don’t let them drive. Same with friends too. If their friends aren’t responsible, drive them wherever yourself.
No. 2 – parents should be reinforcing the rules by speaking with their teenager. MyKey kinda sounds like a cop-out.
No. 3 – Parents will probably not be able to figure out the technology, and if and when they do, teenagers will learn how to quickly turn the option off. Especially since this is all programed with the “parent” key. Yeah – kids won’t be stealing those out of purses in the middle of the night at all.
Aside from these three points, I’m also really curious about how many teenagers get brand new cars when they get their license.
Sure, the parent’s can buy them for themselves, but correct me if I’m wrong, that’s normally not the way it works.
Personally, sure I drove my mom’s busted station wagon for a few months until I was able to buy my own car. A very unsafe – did not come with seat belts had to install them myself – 1986 Toyota pickup.
I guess from talking with friends I thought most either got to borrow the parent’s car, or buy their own used one. Occasionally parents will split the cost too.