Ford "MyKey" keeps teen drivers under 80 mph

Mon Oct 6, 2008 3:12PM EDT

See Comments (101)

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?

Related:
Ford feature will let parents set limits for teens [AP]

Comments on Ford "MyKey" keeps teen drivers under 80 mph

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  • 26 Posted by the_shrivler on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:06PM EDT Report Abuse

    Well i skimmed over some of the posts BUT ! for the most part, am i the only one who would NOT let my son drive my brand new car in the first place ? By the time the car itself is broken in, my son would be a few years older and more mature and would be using the adult key. The thought of the MY KEY is good .. but useless

  • 27 Posted by rtrapasso on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:55PM EDT Report Abuse

    I'm torn... It's just too darn Orwellian for me. Part of me doesn't mind the idea, and I agree that driving over 80mph just isn't nearly ever necessary. But it's just so controlling and invasive, IMO, that it's hard to support. The only Ford I'd ever even consider buying is a Ranger, though, so it doesn't affect me too much. LOL

  • 28 Posted by ibanez24_7 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:22PM EDT Report Abuse

    I think this is a good idea. Most teens havnt even driven a go kart at 5mph let alone a fullsized vehicle. Driving is also a privalige not a freedom. There are rules and well being a teenager at one point just like everyone else you break them all the time. This is for the parents vehicle anyway. They should be greatful they are even lettign them drive. If teens have an issue with "Special" regulations such as this they shouldnt be driving. There is no need to go over 80mph, ever. Acceleration is the thrill not top speed. As long as they dont mess with a cars performance I dont see the big deal in this.

  • 29 Posted by syameshpn on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:52PM EDT Report Abuse

    how about fitting it with the car breathalyzer as well?

  • 30 Posted by antoniohenderson23 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:56PM EDT Report Abuse

    Another memorable part of being a teenager goes "pffttthhhhbb".. Teenage though: "darn, I can't listen to the stereo loud.. this is crap.. I gotta go toke up"

  • 31 Posted by ibanez24_7 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:22PM EDT Report Abuse

    OH need to add. Best thing to do is have the teen purchase their own car to wrap around a tree. MY parents let me drive the car when I had my liscence but then again IVe been driving since I was five. Ya might have been just go-karts and atvs and stuff but you'd be surprised how many kids driving for the first time dont even know what pedal is what. I personally think all driver-ed cars should be standard not automatics. Teach them how to really drive nto just push the throttle and break. People that drive standard vehicles seem to be better drivers. You have to be more aware of what you are doing. But thats a different story.

  • 32 Posted by askalysana on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:58PM EDT Report Abuse

    What the heck?!?! I get the whole speed limit and seat-belt thing but VOLUME control?!?!? IT's a stereo for crying out loud!!!!Teens like loud music and I think volume should be their choice not Ford's.

  • 33 Posted by rcdealtime on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:31PM EDT Report Abuse

    I think they should put the limit at 15 mph. That way, when they run over all the children that are playing in the street, the injuries won't be as severe. Of course, no matter the limit, people will still have accidents because this country doesn't have a decent driver education program. Maybe instead of limiting the speed a car can go, they should just get the tards off the road!

  • 34 Posted by p_moises_c on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:23PM EDT Report Abuse

    Thanks Ford. I think it's a good idea. To Commenter 2: "This is laughable. The chance that young drivers wont immediately learn to circumvent this safety feature is nill. How well did seat belt "dingers" last? about as long as it took to cut the wire.": This should help save some lives. To those kids that plan to "cut the wire", oh well, no solution will work for everybody. That's the reason why there are less adult males than females. If they go that far, they probably have bigger problems to worry about.

  • 35 Posted by salvadorpics on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:01PM EDT Report Abuse

    I like it. my own daughter drives completely differently when i am in the car with her and when she is on her own or with her friends . Kids may well find a way round this and you may not like th eidea of a nanny stae dictating things to you ; but if you're going to act selfishly or irresponsibly perhaps it woudl be easier to enforce raising the driving age to something to where more teenagers are more responsible ?

  • 36 Posted by mattswarthout on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:11PM EDT Report Abuse

    I bought my first car with money I made bagging groceries and mowing lawns. Now parents buy their kids safety cars? Sixteen is old enough to cut the umbilical cord and demand some self-sufficiency. If those little crotch droppings bought their own cars, they wouldn't play chicken with $4,500 worth of their own money. For as much as most teens should be conscripted to Iraq, the parents are the real problem. They enable the idiocy.

  • 37 Posted by aimeelafleur on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:47PM EDT Report Abuse

    Yes, I agree on a regular day there is no need to go over 80 mph but my boyfriend and i go to the local quarter mile dragstrip regularly and he runs his car on the track where obviously he is going over 80 mph. So in my opinion in certain controlled environments there is a reason to go over 80 mph. People don't JUST use there cars to get from point A to point B. I think this is pointless. I don't have any objections about the seat belt alarms.

  • 38 Posted by saleenfiend on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:01PM EDT Report Abuse

    Kids spend more time getting around the rules then they do obeying them. The seat belt thing is an easy fix, uh, click it in behind you, duh. Then there's the all of a sudden mechanic aspect of it, dude I can fix this by..... The states driving age is 16 (Ohio) and the reason kids can't buy tobacco until they're 18 is because there minors, but you can get in a car and kill someone instantly. I've never heard of a cigarette that killed someone in one night. Raise the minimum driving age to at least 18 and maybe some of the problems will be slightly reduced, which statistically could save hundreds of lives.

  • 39 Posted by sealbeachjoe1 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:10PM EDT Report Abuse

    It's about time someone came up with a sensible solution. Now if we could just keep teens off of cell phones and texting while driving, we'd really accomplish alot. Joe

  • 40 Posted by nlafionatis on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:39PM EDT Report Abuse

    This sounds like another idiotic "nanny" feature. If parents want to limit their child's speed, drive with them. If parents do not wish to take the time to instruct their children, at 18 the child can get their license and buy their own car and take responsibility for themselves.

  • 41 Posted by ddawk2 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:39PM EDT Report Abuse

    It may be a good idea. My only concern is the data compiled by the use of computers. This data will end up in the hands of the insurance industry and they will adjust your rates accordingly.

  • 42 Posted by lionelbob on Thu Sep 3, 2009 6:53PM EDT Report Abuse

    You can certainly have fatal accidents at speeds much lower than 80, (especially in 25 mph zones) so why is the limit so high? Also, by altering the radio, it forces them to drive with ipod and earphones, which is even more dangerous. I think what we need here is parent participation in their child's development (including driver training).

  • 43 Posted by dvan_d77 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:50PM EDT Report Abuse

    They should have set it at 70 mph. Most state speed limits are 65 mph. The comment about "unusual situations" is absurd because even in an emergency, a teenager should not drive faster than 70 mph, because it is beyond their ability/experience to control the car. Beyond that, I see this becoming more widespread, even for adults. Rental car agencies and probably companies (and governments) that have their own fleets will likely be interested in purchasing cars with this feature.

  • 44 Posted by erinblake1976 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:55PM EDT Report Abuse

    I love this idea. I would buy this car for my son to drive before any other car.

  • 45 Posted by slykron on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:28PM EDT Report Abuse

    In my personnel opinion why even make a car that can do over 80mph. recently my neighbor bought his 16 year old son a mustange GT. Wow great parents we are now attending funerals for him and a couple of his friend----- a tree doing 110 SPLAT. No biggy killing ones self does not consern me. Hitting someone I know does. IF parents are going to give a kid a car with more power than they can handle hopefully the parents die along with them. I have no sympathy, When you take control of a vehicle you give up your rights to be a dumbass and the rest of us have the right to dictate how you behave. Remember that the next time you drive with no hands talking on your cell phone with 20 of your bodies trying to eat peanuts out or the console later.

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