Newest Key to Teenage Freedom

Ford Motor Co. Unveils Car Key Computer Chip to Monitor Teen Drivers

By LISA STARK, MATT HOSFORD and KATE BARRETT

Oct. 6, 2008—

Car keys -- long perceived as the keys to teenagers' freedom -- may soon be the best way for parents to monitor their every move.
Ford Motor Co. announced today it will offer a new feature, starting next summer on some of its 2010 cars and trucks, that allows parents to set safety limits on teen drivers through a high-tech car key.
Watch "World News With Charles Gibson" tonight at 6:30 p.m. ET for the full report.
Want to ensure your teen can't drive over 80 mph? Or listen to loud music while driving? Or cruise around town without buckling up? A computer chip in the key allows parents to add those features when the key is in the ignition, and ensures a six-second chime will sound every minute if teens don't fasten their seatbelts. Drivers will also be alerted earlier than usual if they're low on fuel, with the computer chip triggering a warning at 75 miles before the gas tank is empty.
"I think it is a great idea. It is not something that is punitive, it is not set too low to be safe," said Barbara Kurzman, who added that she did buy her children cars when they turned 16. "It just makes sense. I would have wanted my children to have the capacity not to go over 80 miles an hour."
But just how warmly the device will be received by teenagers is up for debate. Today in Los Angeles, 17-year-old Joshua Cruz was among several teens who said he disliked the idea of his parents monitoring his driving habits when they weren't sitting next to him.
"I think it would mean that they don't trust you since they don't think that you are responsible enough to decide what to do," Cruz said. "It is not OK, because you should be able to trust your child."
Ruby Medina, who said she lost a friend in a car crash, also said it would limit her freedom, but conceded that if given a choice, "I would take it 'cause it is a car."
"Teens weren't really excited about this," admitted Jim Buczkowski, Ford's director of electronic and electrical systems engineering. "But when they found out that parents potentially would give them more access to the vehicle, their interest doubled as well, too."
Buczkowski added, "This is another example of a way we're trying to use technology to improve people's lives and improve driving skills and making the driving experience better and safer for everyone."
Daniel Garcia, 16, said he is OK with the idea. "It would be safe, you wouldn't be able to speed or no tickets -- that would be fine."
While Ford is the first automaker to offer built-in technology intended to reduce teen driving deaths, insurance and technology companies have also teamed up recently in similar efforts.
Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death for American teens, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
A high-tech surveillance system offered by Safeco sends parents a text message if their teenagers are driving too fast or break curfew. Other insurance companies, such as AIG Auto Insurance and American Family Insurance Co., also inform parents about their kids' driving habits, whether through GPS systems or cameras attached to the rearview mirror.
"We know what [teens] do. We know that they drive fast, that they exceed the speed limits quite often," said Adrian Lund, president of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. "We know that they follow other vehicles real closely, we know that, often, they don't wear safety belts."
Lund said Ford's development is a good idea, even if it takes some time to see whether it will be effective.
"It's a way for parents to sort of extend themselves into the car when they can't be there," added Lund. "Sort of like electronic parenting as their teens are learning to drive."
Ford will debut the technology with its upcoming Ford Focus, then expand the technology to other Ford, Lincoln and Mercury models.
http://abcnews.go.com/Travel/story?id=5966909&page=1

 

Seems like a good effort in reducing the number of new drivers killed in car accidents. However, how many teenagers are lucky enough to have a new car. I wasn't.

 

crap... if lexus gets hold of this..
im screwed

pops would put like 60mph speed limit.. 11 kerfew... oh man he would have a party with that!

 

I personally think the concept is a good idea, but today's kids are very electronics-saavy. I don't think the majority of them will accept the parental controls. They will find a way to override or circumvent the controls. It will probably end up like the constant, never-ending battle between police radar/laser and detector/jammer capabilities.

 

I think this is a very dumb idea, more of the babying that seems to be popular these days. Whatever happened to responsibility and trusting your kids? If you didn't waste time getting all these gimmicks perhaps you'd have time to teach your kids morals and how to be a responsible young adult. Seems everybody wants technology to do it all for them now, very lame idea.

 

I see your point, but cars just keep getting more and more powerful. Twenty years a go a base Camry woulda had 90 HP, now its 160 HP and its going to increase again with the 2.5L. And there are more drivers on the road.

 

This is stupid Ford needs to work on a good looking car.

 

My own opinion is that this is an excellent idea whose time has come.

Part of parenting is to keep their children alive, and letting them drive powerful vehicles CAPABLE of going well over 100 is very risky because, let's face it, a lot are going to do it. What's so bad about limiting a car to 80 until a driver is, say 19 or 20? If the young driver doesn't like it, they can work and get their own car, insurance, etc.

Cars are rapidly becoming connected intelligent devices, that can be configured through software and hardware.

Security will be an issue, but most young people WON'T be able to figure out how to circumvent these parental controls.

 

Well interesting, if you parents want to keep your kids "safe" by buying this car.....why is the limit 80? you don't think the kids will go 80 which is way faster than it needs to be, most people can handle driving. I think this is just idiotic and ford could use their money for something better. But that is my opinion so you're entitled to mine. I've been driving since 17 and never had the need to speed because I understood what that could lead to and the consequences.

 

Certainly is a dumb idea... I mean kids are so responsible these days... You can even give them the keys to your BMW M5 and be sure they will be fine...

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...ight=BMW+forum

 

Yes accidents happen, but this is not going to stop them from happening. If you want to stop accidents, then don't let your kid get their license at 16 and teaching them right or wrong starts when they are young and they will learn overtime. A car limiting their speed to 80mph is nothing, they'll still go that 80 if they're not mature enough to be behind the wheel. Anybody can drive any car, if you have an M5 and don't think your kid can handle it then don't give it to them. Like I said, my opinion and I'll stand by that.

 

Yes, you are right it may not stop all accidents from happening. But , it will certainly will help in reducing accidents and the severity. You are also right about teaching children about the responsibilities of driving and the consequences of stupidity behind the wheel, but who are you going to entrust to teach this to them? Remember ,children have their own minds and even the most level headed can make bad decisions... Not to mention the fact that that some parents should apply for a licence to keep kids ,judging by the way some kids are bought up these days.

I am sure you will change your tune if it was one of your kids in a car accident that was driven by someone elses kids... I say that b/c ,I hope you are prepared to leave your kids fate in the hands of someone elses parenting and trust they have taught them everything you have preached here. Think about it...

 

i don't see how this is a bad idea, if the highway has a speed limit of 70mph.. i'm assuming there's no need to go faster than 80mph.. so yeah, put the limiter on 80.. your kid shouldn't be speeding in the first place.. an accident at 100mph will def be worse than one at a lower speed

 

I just feel like there are so many more distractions these days as well. 6 years ago, which isn't that long ago there was no such thing as text messaging. Now I try and use my bluetooth when I Drive and I am even more distracted trying to get it to connect. I finally made a pact with myself that I wouldn't use the phone anymore unless I was lost or something.

 

I still say the only cars a teen should drive should be a Prius or a Insight...