Coming To A Car/Truck Near You:Ford's MyKey to put limits on drivers

[Pro2X]

This is a great idea. I want to make sure my kids 'when i get old enough to have them' to be safe in any vehicle they drive. I know teens like to get loose and act crazy when they first start driving so this is 1 step to prevent this.

When I was 18 I had a twin turbo 300zx built. I paid for the car, mods, etc to it but I am responsible and kept it on the strip. However, there were a couple times I did act up a little bit but for the most part, track was where I was at.

I doubt that many people would do what I did, so having this program is a great idea IMO.

[Locked2K7]

i know a 17 year old who has a amg c63.... i did not even get a car untill i was 18... makes me hurt inside to know what he does with it

[jjski78]

Originally Posted by Da Hui

Took the words right out of my mouth. It amazes me how much stupid crap I see kids at my school doing behind the wheel. I'm glad I have enough sense to drive like an intelligent person.


I also think this thing with the Ford's is somewhat silly. Having all these nanny things in the car doesn't teach responsibility. If someone can't handle driving the speed limit, driving safely, and wearing their safety belt, they shouldn't be driving.

Well, if you're gonna go with that line of thinking, and this goes with everyone else saying it's a nanny thing I'll say this:

What do you think about traction control?

Active stability control??

Seat belts???

Air Bags????

Anti-lock brakes?????

Turn signals??????

Headlights???????

These are all items that have not been on cars since their inception, yet we take them for granted as "must haves". I know my parents and grandparents grew up with cars that had steel dashboards, no seatbelts, drum brakes all around, no stability control or ABS, and certainly no airbags, yes, they turned out just fine, and so did I without this program.

That said, I believe it is a good thing to give parents the option of using a program like this because, for the most part, kids are much less responsible these days than they were even 10 years ago. Nowadays kids having a part-time job after school seems to be taboo. Driving an old beater like the '85 Grand Prix or '80 Datsun 200sx I had in high school is a huge no-no. Kids want to go fast like they see on tv and elsewhere (other irresponsible kids, Nick Hogan), yet they don't know how to even drive the speed limit properly. And the vast majority of them don't just keep it on the track, instead they go out street racing on open public roads. At least when I was in school we raced on the incinerator road. No traffic at all at night, and perfectly straight and level for 3 miles. Not on main street like some of these morons do.

[KamyKazyTommy]

i can't beleive skierdude has a brand new truck and is 17....where did I f up?

[jers]

The bottom line is if you don't want it, don't buy a car with it. If it becomes standard equipment, don't engage it. There is still a choice there. You still decide if you want to monitor drivers in your vehicle or not.

[skierdude]

Originally Posted by KamyKazyTommy

i can't beleive skierdude has a brand new truck and is 17....where did I f up?

It was cheaper this way i either got my dads old car (volvo s60R FAST!!!) and he bought a new car something like 50,000$ Infinity BMW benz. Or he kept the volvo and i got my 2008 storm gray frontier se 4x4 for my skis that we got an amazing deal on 15,???. Nissan wanted to get there trucks off the lot we helped.

[Mainerunr]

Originally Posted by sexy6chick

I don't even think the Focus can do 80 mph lol.

c'mon now, the 85 escort wagon with the 1.6 and a 5-spd got clocked at 105...

[BORNGEARHEAD]

This is pretty sad actually. You can't protect your kid from the real world. Everybody who says this is great, remember what you did when you were in high school. Would you have loved your parents to bring home a nerdy-a s s automatic Ford Focus for your first car that couldn't do shiat? You ain't gettin laid in a Focus. This car won't stop your kid from driving drunk in it. You can try to smother your kid with protection all you want but if something bad is going to happen it's going to happen.

My first car was a big-block Fury with drum brakes, lapbelts, and an am radio.

I feel so much better knowing that I don't live my life in fear.

[zachopp]

In South Dakota we used to be able to get a driver licecense at 14, thats right 14 years old. It was only valid during daylight hours, but none the less a 14 year old could drive alone. I think kids can still get them but they have to drive with a permit for 6 months first.

[shinermiller]

Originally Posted by USAFANG67

Parents can’t always ride shotgun with their teen-aged drivers. But with Ford’s upcoming MyKey system, they can ride virtual shotgun.

With MyKey, parents can program the car’s control computers to set limits on drivers, and maintain safety systems.

Among the items controlled by the key:

-- Max speed is limited to 80 miles per hour, and warning chimes can sound at 45, 55 and 65 miles per hour.

-- The seat belt warning chime sounds, and the radio is muted, until the belt is buckled.

-- The low fuel warning comes on with 75 miles remaining, instead of the usual 50 miles.

-- Radio volume limited to 44 percent of maximum.

-- And safety technologies such as traction control and blind spot detection cannot be deactivated.

Ford says the MyKey will be standard on the 2010 Focus that goes on sale next year, and will be optional on many other of the automaker’s products.

No word, yet, on whether they may add back seat moisture sensors to the system -- you know, for parents’ peace of mind.

Wow.. talk about big brother. Next thing we know our vehicles will be controlled by the Government... Wait, that is if we are even allowed to drive then. Much less purchase gasoline.. thats just rediculous