Cars set to get parental controls

[Hum]

Cars could soon come with parental controls that limit what younger drivers can do with a vehicle.

Developed by Ford, the MyKey system limits a car's top speed, how loud its stereo can be :huh: and sounds warnings if seatbelts are not being worn.

Ford will introduce the controls on some US makes of car that are due to debut in 2009 but go on sale in 2010.

The Ford Focus will be the first to have MyKey, but the car maker said it would become a standard feature.

The main element of the MyKey system is to limit the top speed of a car to 80mph.

Ford says other options allow parents to limit the volume on the car stereo and make the car sound a continuous alert if drivers and passengers are not wearing a seatbelt.

Other options will let parents decide if warning tones should sound if a car goes faster than 45, 55 or 65 mph.

The car giant said the system built on the ID chips it already used in car keys to hamper car theft.

"It's making use of existing technology, and through the magic of software, we're able to build features on top of the features we already have," sad Jim Buczkowski, Ford's director of electronic and electrical systems engineering.

Ford's compact version of the Focus, which is due to go on sale in 2010, will be the first to sport MyKey. But a spokesman said it would spread to all cars in the Ford, Lincoln and Mercury range as models are updated.

"Research we've done has shown that speeding is a major factor in teen crashes, especially novice teen drivers," Anne McCartt, senior vice president for research at the US Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, told the AP news agency.

"So I think a system that tries to correct the speeding behaviour has the potential to improve safety," she added.

source

[+Nik Louch Subscriber²]

I like this idea in theory - but it's been shown that drivers react negatively against controls that enforce conditions (such as setting a max speed) and a driver in a negative state of mind is not cool...

[S7un7]

This is a bad idea. If parents can not trust their kids, they should not be behind the wheel of a car. Stop putting the responsibility of controlling your children in the hands of car manufacturers. That's your f***ing job [parents].

[MR_Candyman]

Even the most well behaved teen will speed. I'm all for this system really

[wst50]

I agree with it.

As long as it doesn't limit acceleration.

But, who the **** buys a new car for their kids first? They're either gonna crash it, and get more massive insurance premiums, or they're not, inc which case they could have saved money with a cheap POS van (which is what I'm getting) and not claiming on ins anyway, if they get a hole in the side. If I crash/dent my van, it's going to look very Mad-Max style when I'm done with it.

"I AM THE ROAD WARRIOR!"

[Chicane-UK Veteran]

Good idea. Definately.

I know how I used to treat my dads car when I passed my test.. and it's not like I was some loser kid - it's just something you have to get out of your system I think when you're a young man as you don't know what the limits are, and how far you can push it.

On the negative side, with this feature, kids may never get the 'scare' they need to make them drive a bit more responsibly. Mine was locking up the brakes trying to race a friend as we headed down towards a busy junction (no ABS on the car) - skidded what must have been like 50ft before stopping inches from the junction.. needless to say my driving style changed at that point.

[peacemf]

i agree with it....

true it should be PART of the solution, like exercise as part of a controlled diet...

If you can afford to buy your kids nice things, then you will.......

not all parents think like that, but alot do....

thats why kids have the ps3 etc, its not really required, but you can afford it and your kids want it

[Olemus]

If it drives down the cost of my car insurance im all for it, Ive never sped in a car since ive been driving and yet im still paying ?1000+ on my insurance

[zeta_immersion]

If it drives down the cost of my car insurance im all for it, Ive never sped in a car since ive been driving and yet im still paying ?1000+ on my insurance

i agree with you man ... i like the idea but then again there are pros and cons ... actually i wish they had this when i was a teenager (about 8 years ago) so i could drive the car without being hassled by insurance and parents ... actually they should implement a breathalyzer test ... if you drank , no car for you ...

[Skyfrog]

Parked at an intersection, suddenly the responsible teen sees a truck careening right at them. They stomp on the gas to move out of the way. "I'm sorry Dave, but I can't allow you to do that" says the car, right before the teen is killed in the collision.

Ok maybe I'm exaggerating just a bit but I hate BS like this. This sounds like something for people who suck as parents.

[Biotoxic_hazard_835]

Great idea

[Shadrack]

I think this is a horrible idea. This is opening the door for law suits IMO.

[AltecXP]

I can already do that... on fords... this is retarded.

[maplecookie Veteran]

I think this is brilliant. If my sister had had something like that in the car when she first started driving maybe she'd be a better driver now.

[shihchiun]

I don't think anyone will learn how to be a good driver if they have a computer nanny telling them what they can and cannot do. They might as well just make cars fully automated.

[revvo]

Right, because this will make things safer, riiiiight :rolleyes:

Why is it Ford though? Those who claim that it would be too expensive to build the Euro Focus for their home market in North America? These same guys are spending money which they don't have to make quality cars on technologies that won't make driving that much safer for teens.

[kl33per]

Even the most well behaved teen will speed. I'm all for this system really

That's a pretty gross generalization that frankly, I take offence to. I remember being a teenager (not that long ago) and I didn't speed. I don't speed today either; I have no speeding fines because I don't speed.

That being said, I have to a stand against any system that limits driver control. I can understand things like ABS, ESC, and Powered Steering, because they improve driver control (for most drivers anyway), but limiting the speed of the car can have dangerous repurcussions. People need to be taught how to drive, and how to do so responsibly. Education is the key, not restriction.

[chconline Veteran]

80mph limit? I don't think I've ever hit that on my daily commute. Max is 100km/h (62mph), but that's only because of adhering to traffic flow.

[revvo]

People need to be taught how to drive, and how to do so responsibly. Education is the key, not restriction.

+1 (Y)

[MR_Candyman]

That's a pretty gross generalization that frankly, I take offence to. I remember being a teenager (not that long ago) and I didn't speed. I don't speed today either; I have no speeding fines because I don't speed.

That being said, I have to a stand against any system that limits driver control. I can understand things like ABS, ESC, and Powered Steering, because they improve driver control (for most drivers anyway), but limiting the speed of the car can have dangerous repurcussions. People need to be taught how to drive, and how to do so responsibly. Education is the key, not restriction.

I'm glad you take offense, but really, quite frankly you are in the vast minority. Limiting the speed to 80 MPH isn't going to limit somebody's learning.

To respond to the idiot who posted the scenario about a kid being at a traffic light and having to accelerate: Seriously, if you're at a stop light you won't need to go up higher than 80MPH, and if they did, they would take too long to get to that speed and would be in an accident anyways. Your scenario is bogus.

[Xerxes]

It might stop some of the small offenders but for ones who can afford to hot up their car and have a tendency to hoon, this will be a minor distraction which they will easily hack or remove. Plus they are relying on the parents to do the right thing, what about the parents who don't care? Personally this isn't a solution. They should be teaching young people how to drive responsibly, not just how to pass the license test, THAT is the problem. Sure not all young drivers are bad drivers, but it only takes one ******** to ruin it everyone.

[Sam Symons Veteran]

How would they implement the seatbelt thing? How can the car tell if there's people in the backseat? I can understand maybe a weight pressure system, but what if they just have boxes or something, heh. I suppose they could just plug in the seatbelt anyway.

[chconline Veteran]

How would they implement the seatbelt thing? How can the car tell if there's people in the backseat? I can understand maybe a weight pressure system, but what if they just have boxes or something, heh. I suppose they could just plug in the seatbelt anyway.

Interesting point. Every morning I throw my 15-20 pound backpack (Where like 10 pounds is probably my laptop and AC adapter :x ) into my passenger side seat. The indicator shows that the airbag is off for that side but the seatbelt alarm never comes on. I guess it has something to do with the whole weight thing -- if the airbag is off, the seatbelt warning may be off as well.

[Snakehn]

Parked at an intersection, suddenly the responsible teen sees a truck careening right at them. They stomp on the gas to move out of the way. "I'm sorry Dave, but I can't allow you to do that" says the car, right before the teen is killed in the collision.

Ok maybe I'm exaggerating just a bit but I hate BS like this. This sounds like something for people who suck as parents.

they are limiting the top speed, not the acceleration.

[Nayos]

Bad idea. It's no use saying to a potentially good driver "well, you're only 18, so you can only go at this speed", but then to say to an older person who may frequently drive dangerously that it's okay because he/she is older.

Drivers need to take responsibility for themselves and how they drive. Young or old.