Cars set to get parental controls

[jingarelho]

10? as in a week after launch will be videos in youtube teaching how to get around the security features.

[Hum]

Teens in safety car drive drunk.

2 cars crash head-on at 45 mph each = 90 mph impact. :pinch: You're dead.

[rathefeare]

I have no problem with this as long as it is offered as an optional tool for parents to chose to use for their cars and their minors. If it progresses to the government mandating its use then there is a problem. Parents have been handing out the valet key to their kids for decades; this is just better technology to limit excessive speed. Sorry to sound harsh, but all the teens that are complaining can buy their own car if they don't like the way Mom and Dad chose to let them use theirs.

[_dandy_]

I have no problem with this as long as it is offered as an optional tool for parents to chose to use for their cars and their minors. If it progresses to the government mandating its use then there is a problem. Parents have been handing out the valet key to their kids for decades; this is just better technology to limit excessive speed. Sorry to sound harsh, but all the teens that are complaining can buy their own car if they don't like the way Mom and Dad chose to let them use theirs.

+1

I was going to post something along those lines. This isn't the government trying to impose something on all drivers, this is for parents to keep their kids under control--if they can't show they're responsible or can't be trusted, the parents have a concrete method of enforcing what they think is appropriate.

I also totally agree that if Little Johnny doesn't like it, he can get his own damn car and leave Mom and Dad's alone. They can pay for their own car, gas, insurance, maintenance and mistakes. Otherwise, Mom and Dad's car = Mom and Dad's rules, and if that's still not good enough, the parents are still entitled to take the keys away.

I'd bet all of those here who oppose the idea are only those who are likely to get affected by this and feel threatened. To them, I say, live by your parents' rules, or move out--until then, they're responsible for you.

[Nvidia]

If it brings down my insurance premiums (I'm paying $330 a month for 1 car, with a perfect driving record, 21 years old), I am all for it. (Y)

[the evn show]

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

The most dangerous speeding isn't doing 110 km/h in a 90 km/h zone, it's doing 50 km/h in a 30 zone.

This isn't the government trying to impose something on all drivers, this is for parents to keep their kids under control--if they can't show they're responsible or can't be trusted, the parents have a concrete method of enforcing what they think is appropriate.

Concerns are that it will 'slippery slope' it's way into government legislation making all cause perform even more poorly and more expensive to buy and maintain.

I'd bet all of those here who oppose the idea are only those who are likely to get affected by this and feel threatened. To them, I say, live by your parents' rules, or move out--until then, they're responsible for you.

Um, affected by it? that's sort of a broad term. If you mean that their parents are going to shut them down: you're wrong. I've purchased all the vehicles I've driven since I started 10 years ago. I never drove my parents car until 3 years ago: picking them up from their company Christmas party (I didn't take mine because it wouldn't hold two passengers).

I think that most cars are hitting absurd levels of 'extra' technology and that it's having a negative impact on driving as a whole.

Cars of today don't get substantially better gas milage than those of the 80s*, nor do they perform substantially better**.

I like the option of having techno-wizardy for those that are interested but I also want the option not to have it for those that don't.

If it brings down my insurance premiums (I'm paying $330 a month for 1 car, with a perfect driving record, 21 years old), I am all for it.

I'd rather have my rates based on my driving record than what I drive. An idiot with the slowest, smallest, most boring car on earth is still more dangerous than a 'good'/safe driver with a sports car or gigantic SUV.

* 1983 Honda Civic got 46/59 MPG, a 2008 Civic Hybrid gets 40/45 MPG and the manual 4-cylinder is 25/34 MPG. (source)

** See Top Gear's Generation Game (source)

[Olemus]

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

Im sorry but I have to disagree with this, im a teen and im too SCARED to speed. bump up my car insurance premium by ?200-?300 for the sake of arriving at my destination 2 minutes sooner, id rather stick to the speed limits.

I'd rather have my rates based on my driving record than what I drive. An idiot with the slowest, smallest, most boring car on earth is still more dangerous than a 'good'/safe driver with a sports car or gigantic SUV.

+1

[revvo]

I'd bet all of those here who oppose the idea are only those who are likely to get affected by this and feel threatened. To them, I say, live by your parents' rules, or move out--until then, they're responsible for you.

I'm opposed this kind of bs electronics and you're wrong.

I'm 24. I've been driving since I was 18 and I only bought my own car when I was 23. I never had a ticket (not even parking ticket), never had an accident. The sign says 60 I go 60. If there's a stop sign I do a full stop. If there's a white line and it's too late for me to exit the highway I take the next exit. It's all about how you were educated on the subject of driving and how mature you are. I love driving, so I try my best to be safe on the roads so that I can continue to enjoy it without hurting anyone or myself. I won't bs you, sometimes I'll go a bit faster and I'll change lanes very quickly but my full attention is always on the roads when doing so. I never talk on the phone while driving, even if I had a bluetooth I wouldn't because I know having 1 hand or two doesn't change anything since your focus is still on the conversation

I'm opposed this because I like cars that are mechanical, the less electric gizmos, the better (except if it's an S-Class :D). I don't see how this will make young drivers safer. People still drive while talking on the phone (bluetooth, cellphone there's no difference). People still drink and drive or try to do too many things at once while not paying attention on the road and all the surroundings. What Ford's doing here doesn't help much with those issues.

Edited October 8, 2008 by revvo

[Nayos]

+1

I was going to post something along those lines. This isn't the government trying to impose something on all drivers, this is for parents to keep their kids under control--if they can't show they're responsible or can't be trusted, the parents have a concrete method of enforcing what they think is appropriate.

I also totally agree that if Little Johnny doesn't like it, he can get his own damn car and leave Mom and Dad's alone. They can pay for their own car, gas, insurance, maintenance and mistakes. Otherwise, Mom and Dad's car = Mom and Dad's rules, and if that's still not good enough, the parents are still entitled to take the keys away.

I'd bet all of those here who oppose the idea are only those who are likely to get affected by this and feel threatened. To them, I say, live by your parents' rules, or move out--until then, they're responsible for you.

When you put it like that, I agree

Though I bought my own car when I was young and wouldn't have been affected.

[wst50]

I'm opposed this because I like cars that are mechanical, the less electric gizmos, the better (except if it's an S-Class :D ).

Good point - helping someone in school fix their motorbike today, you cannot rely on anything to work. His problem was simple enough. Just a modification in riding technique until he fixes it (gear pedal doesn't spring-return llike it should, a lot of play), but how's Joe Bloggs going to fix his computer operated car?

He can't.

I mean, if he had the skill to fix it himself, he could deactivate it anyway.

Okay, I oppose the idea now.

[revvo]

The point I was trying to make is these technologies do very little, just making the car more complicated for nothing. You think many people use the self parking system of the Lexus LS460? Or do most, heck even half of S-Class drivers use cruise control on the highway and let the control nearly everything such as breaking and keeping distance?

We shouldn't automate these basic driving skills. You think years ago there were no teens driving cars when cars were more simple? How was reckless driving better or worse? Probably around the same, so why is there a sudden need for these extra nuts & bolts?

Restricting someone from having everything at his disposal will only delay the problems up to the point when they will have access to everything.

[SoCalledChaos]

If it brings down my insurance premiums (I'm paying $330 a month for 1 car, with a perfect driving record, 21 years old), I am all for it. (Y)

Thats terrible insurance then.. I pay 133 a month and I'm 23, and i've been driving since 16..

[revvo]

If it brings down my insurance premiums (I'm paying $330 a month for 1 car, with a perfect driving record, 21 years old), I am all for it. (Y)

What are you driving :|

Here that's about how much you'd be paying if you have one of the top stolen cars in Canada, the top being the Honda Civic SiR (US Si model)

[_dandy_]

I'm opposed this kind of bs electronics and you're wrong.

I'm 24. I've been driving since I was 18 and I only bought my own car when I was 23. I never had a ticket (not even parking ticket), never had an accident. The sign says 60 I go 60. If there's a stop sign I do a full stop. If there's a white line and it's too late for me to exit the highway I take the next exit. It's all about how you were educated on the subject of driving and how mature you are. I love driving, so I try my best to be safe on the roads so that I can continue to enjoy it without hurting anyone or myself. I won't bs you, sometimes I'll go a bit faster and I'll change lanes very quickly but my full attention is always on the roads when doing so. I never talk on the phone while driving, even if I had a bluetooth I wouldn't because I know having 1 hand or two doesn't change anything since your focus is still on the conversation

So, you have nothing to worry about. If you give your parents no reason to turn on the speed limiter or whatever, then they won't use it. And even if they do, then it seems like you wouldn't even notice if you're as law-abiding a driver as

you make it out to be.

All I was saying was that it gave parents an optional, concrete method to enforce some rules if you're repeatedly being a dick on the road.