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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  • 66 Posted by donaldblake1993 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:46PM EDT Report Abuse

    Actually, here's a thought. Why not parents teach their kids not to speed and to wear their seatbelts, and if not, they get ticketed. Whoever invented this can kiss my hind end.

  • 67 Posted by fishnjunki on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:00PM EDT Report Abuse

    this has got to be one of the best ideas I have ever heard. I am really shoced that it came from Ford.

  • 68 Posted by johnnyblog on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:39PM EDT Report Abuse

    A limit on volume control is great, maybe then they, and cars around them, will be able to hear the emergency vehicles coming and get out of the way. Also, there's no need to ever be exceeding speeds of 80, ever. People who use the passing argument, if you had to speed up that much, you didn't have enough room to pass to begin with! And to those who say high speeds or loud music help them concentrate on the road, that's just BS, and you know it. If your ADD is that bad, then you shouldn't drive at all. It's a great idea, maybe some kids will get around it, but like someone said, if it saves just one kid, it's a good thing.

  • 69 Posted by xve298 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:53PM EDT Report Abuse

    Ah, people are so scared. First thing is that most fatal accidents happen around 45 mph: so that rational goes out the window. Second driving speeds mean that 80 is too slow to provide any margin of safety when passing downhill. Third, it is the fact that any such intrusion can be used against you! Ask any good lawyer and in any court case they will ask YOU why YOU were not using this device. Be not fooled there will always be danger. Speeding on an open highway is very different that a crowded urban city. I have lived in the rural and big cities and of course there is a difference. Most do not get enough experience and learning situational awareness. Driving over 100 is common in Germany and many places in the us would be better served by the superior road building there. Teaching how to really drive with situational awareness,skill is really the answer.

  • 70 Posted by huan564 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:21PM EDT Report Abuse

    Honestly, I think that this will cause more people to speed once the restriction is taken off.

  • 71 Posted by barharbor15 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:02PM EDT Report Abuse

    I think this is taking things a little too far. I'm 19, always wear my seatbelt, and am a responsible driver. However I like to listen to loud music and I think that limiting the volume of the music is a joke. And if I want to or need to go over 80 mph, then I want to be able to. I believe that the car companies are going to invest too much time and effort into features and equipment into new cars. The on-road and written tests to get your license are a joke. If there were longer and more intensive then I think teens would start out as better drivers and there would be less of a need for cars to have these features. And if I had this computer chip in my car I would just find a person I know who could take it out.

  • 72 Posted by jexjex64 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:34PM EDT Report Abuse

    Nobody needs to go over 80. 30 years ago the speedometers in econoboxes maxed out at 80.

  • 73 Posted by jrtaylor079 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:42PM EDT Report Abuse

    You know what? I am TIRED of these little punks taking their parents cars out and preventing me from getting to point A and B without them trying to race (my Mustang). I work for Ford, and there is a huge anticipation from consumers, and personally, I can't wait either.

  • 74 Posted by ninpo2006 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:39PM EDT Report Abuse

    All cars should have this and it should be for all drivers. Actually they should go a step beyond and make the device restrict the speed to the speed limit in all areas. They could use gps. It would be the end of speeding tickets.

  • 75 Posted by woodsythomas on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:49PM EDT Report Abuse

    useless! 55 mph is deadly speed when loads of teens are behind the wheel. what is the point of 80 mph? increased safety is always good but they need to limit it to 65~70mph. where is the speed limit above 70mph in this country?

  • 76 Posted by woodsythomas on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:49PM EDT Report Abuse

    there should not be a need for speeds above 70 mph.

  • 77 Posted by lesaworkman on Thu Sep 3, 2009 6:49PM EDT Report Abuse

    This key probably won't work for the kids that are more likely to 'need' it. They will find a way around it. Besides, you can't trust technology to fix your fears. If you think your kid is at risk while driving then maybe you shoudln't let them drive until you are confident that they are ready to be respoinsible. I wouldn't rely on a key to guarantee my kid's saftey. This won't teach them anything. This is not how the real world should work.

  • 78 Posted by fisher_t2000 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:00PM EDT Report Abuse

    That is amazing! When my daughters get old enough they'll get one of those cars!! Good idea...my husband might want to get me one!

  • 79 Posted by gregbud22 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:12PM EDT Report Abuse

    Sounds like hypocritical restriction of freedom, I would never buy my teen a car like this. It's like putting safety watches on your internet, if you don't trust them then your not doing a good job as a parent. Dictatorship inc

  • 80 Posted by not27shy on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:41PM EDT Report Abuse

    I can't believe people are still falling for this stuff. If you don't feel that your teen is responsible enough to drive then don't let them drive. I am not going to feel any better if you irresponsible teen (and you said they were irresponsible by forcing this thing on them so don't bother being offended!) hits me and is going under 80 with their seat belt on. Trust you children or admit you failed and kill them.

  • 81 Posted by gregbud22 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:12PM EDT Report Abuse

    Or better yet, why just teens for everyone agreeing with this idea. Maybe you should be limited too. Not such a good idea now is it.

  • 82 Posted by emetz17 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:54PM EDT Report Abuse

    I think it is an excellent idea and i would be more apt to buy my son a Ford , when the time comes, because of the safety features!

  • 83 Posted by bentonc02 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:05PM EDT Report Abuse

    i am sixteen. i have a ford mustang gt that i worked 5 summers for and i will be extremely ticked off if ford decides to pass these ridiculous restrictions on their cars. we are teenagers, we speed, we play loud music, we do stupid stuff, but so did every generation of teens before us and so will every generation after us so this is completely pointless. we will only find ways around it and this will only piss us off more if these are applied. teens need rights too and it should be THEIR responsibility to drive safely and not that of the car itself, the more rules that are passed the more we will try to break and surpass them.

  • 84 Posted by junk15_98 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:44PM EDT Report Abuse

    This seems like a good idea to teach new drivers to keep within the limit without putting themselves in jeopardy.

  • 85 Posted by marklsbabygirl on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:08PM EDT Report Abuse

    Yeah ok, great until your keys get "lost" and they just use yours or they get a key cut with no restrictions. This comes down to once again technology replacing parental guidance.Great your brats will live another day escaping death on the interstate where there are the LEAST amount of fatal crash's to kill themselves and even more likely others in more dense lower speed zones. Nothing more then false security for the future parents of 75mph crash victims. If this feature sways you to purchase one of these vehicle's then its time you rethink your parenting and take the keys AWAY!

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