Ford MyKey lets parents control their kids' driving habits
By Donald Melanson 
posted October 6th 2008 2:47PM
posted October 6th 2008 2:47PM
There's not exactly a shortage of options out there for parents that want to keep watch on their kids' driving, but Ford looks to be taking things a bit further than most with its new MyKey system, and it's making it standard issue, no less. Set to debut in the 2010 Focus Coupe and plenty of other Ford vehicles shortly thereafter, the key-based system will let parents limit their car's top driving speed to 80 miles per hour, cut off the stereo's volume at just 44% of its max output, and set a persistent chime to go off if the seatbelts aren't being used (the stereo also gets muted until everyone buckles up). As if that wasn't enough, it'll also provide a low-fuel warning at 75 miles to empty, start issuing a surely annoying reminder as the driver inches up past the 45 mph mark, and make it impossible to disable some of the Focus' usual safety measures like Park Aid and Cross Traffic Alert. Also not able to be disabled: your kid's resentment.
this is definitely the best way to keep the kids safe. This sounds just like my car... '94 Suburban
For all those kids getting a 2010 Focus for their first car.
Crap like this is contributing to our generation of 20 somethings with parents that won't cut the cord. Limiting the speed on a car is just dangerous (how many times have you needed to speed up to avoid a collision? If the answer is not many times, then you haven't been driving very long) not to mention that the speed on a stretch of highway with a 70 MPH limit, is about 80 MPH, especially in the fast lane (How are you going to pass someone going 70 MPH, if you can't even hit 80?). I have no problem with the music volume limiting (some punk kids enjoy blaring their car stereos at all times of the day or night. This seems like a good fix) but everything else is a joke.
I'm glad that I got my license a few years before any of this BS GPS tracking, speed limiting, molly coddling technology hit the market. My parents probably would have used it, and it probably would have made my life miserable. What's next? Technology that informs your parents mid-test if you are doing poorly? (and an option for them to send your educational institution a 10 dollar donation to give you an on-the-spot cheat sheet?) Atleast this isn't as inane as car GPS tracking. Like your kids don't know a kid with an un-bugged car that they can use to drive to the kegger. Not too hard to park a car, get in another car, and have your parents think that you are safely at little timmy's house.
"how many times have you needed to speed up to avoid a collision? If the answer is not many times, then you haven't been driving very long"
Sorry boatman, but I've been driving for many, many years and I drive well in excess of 25,000 miles every year on standard roads, city driving and interstate. Speeding up to avoid a collision is a rarity.
The fact that there are so many comments on a gadget as innocuous as this tells me the average age of an Engadget poster is 15.
I'm in a weird spot here...I'm young enough to where I resent this by default, but I'm old enough to understand how I would want this for my kids...
WHO AM I?!??!?!?!!1!!1!!!one!!?!
Reminds me of me... it's a sort of strange hypocrisy... that or the belief in one's own invulnerability while maintaining certainty that everyone else remains constantly at risk.
@Inane_Asylum:
> WHO AM I?!??!?!?!!1!!1!!!one!!?!
That's easy: you're a hypocrite
I really like this idea, and would like it even more if it leads to lower insurance for 18 - 24 males.
That would be a good reason to like it, but it might just defeat it's purpose.
It's like arguing that driving 55 mph on the highway saves lives... and gas: I'm sure more drivers would obey it because they want to save gas than those who are concerned for the well being of themselves and others; teenagers might welcome this into their car not because they want to learn how to drive more responsibly but because they want a lower insurance rate while they are still considered to be young drivers.
But if the habits become pretty ingrained into those drivers' minds (driving at appropriate speeds with appropriate levels of distraction), then... it's all bueno.
Well, I see two sides to this issue.
To me, this is kind of like going on a diet that you don't plan on sticking to forever: yes, while a young driver (of the ages between... 15.5-18, or 19? well, for whomever you as a parent deem this appropriate) could stand to have hard restrictions on their driving habits and freedoms while on the road, what would they do once they get their own car (or into another car) without these restrictions? I'm a little concerned that once off this "diet," a young driver will "binge," taking full advantage of the features of a non-restricted automobile, maybe just to test out what it's like to be "free," and with this surge of freedom these newly "mature" drivers will become... reckless, due to a lack of learned responsibility and discipline, instead being forced into good driving choices by habit (i.e. being constantly forced to drive under 80 and with the car stereo volume at a certain level)... "I'm going to eat well until I'm down to an appropriate weight and then... we'll see."
BUT, maybe that habit of driving under a certain speed and with the radio low will become integral beliefs of the young driver, therefore making this system actually useful.
In any case, I think a responsible parent (meaning a parent who is genuinely concerned for the maturation and growth of their child) should carefully and thoughtfully explain why they are implementing such a system into their son or daughter's new car - much like they should in any of their actions regarding their children - and if your child doesn't believe that you are doing this for his/her own benefit, because there is a lack of mutual trust or there is animosity between you two, then... no matter what kind of protection you try to throw their way, they're not going to like it, and they're probably going to just resent it (possibly defy it) until they reach the proper maturity (on their own) to understand the motivations behind your actions.... which is probably the main reason why I am thankful my parents took the time to explain their limits and reprimands.
OMG WALL OF TEXT, NOO VERY BAD FOR EYES.
I see GM in my future. I'm not too happy with that chip in the key security system I've had for a few years. This new stuff make that Silverado look pretty good.
IT was volvo's idea to make a key that restrict speed for safety
but when it comes to ford, they add a baby monitor on it.
Stupid ford.
I know, Volvo Cars is a part of Ford.
yeh. uhm this does make sense but its a little absurd. ill tell you one thing. when i do drive my parents car i do abuse it, but i do it in as safe of a way possible, (lol)
having alarms in the car for over 45 would be ridiculous, i have to do 55 to get to school and work, so im stuck listening to chimes... then the stereo, i rarely use the stereo while driving
but when i do its loud enough to knock the mirror off the windshield, thanks to a portable amp and sub box. one last thought, im going to college for electrical engineering... i bet it would take a few hours and a logic probe to figure out whats holding me back and disable it.
so not much of their idea would work on me. except seatbelts which i always wear anyway. ive had friends killed in minor accidents that would have been 100% fine wearing one.
Any hacks developed yet...?!?!? :D
I am 16 and just started driving about a week ago.
I think that this might be necessary b/c of how people raise their kids these days but I think it is sad that the world has come to this. If parents can't trust their own kids to drive then the kids don't need a car. I think that a kid should learn from their own mistakes or else they never learn. Since this feature wouldn't prevent most wrecks that teens are in, there is really no reason for it. Also, if a kid is doing something really stupid and they get in a wreck and get hurt, they learn that they need to be cautious drivers and possibly this will save the life of a conservative driver later down the road (pun intended). If the get in a wreck and die, then I'm sorry to say but that's evolution for you.
When parents raise kids that are irresponsible, it might as well be the parent's fault if the kid gets in a wreck.
In summary: I don't think that this feature will avoid any wrecks. Evolution. It will cause the kid to resent his/her parents more and probably drive recklessly on purpose. Parents don't know how to parent these days. Oh, and did I mention evolution... survival of the fittest so that ONLY their genes get passed on to the next generation.
I'm surprised people don't trust their kids anymore. Have you lost the talent to teach your kid to be responsible and not drive crazy? When it comes down to it technology isn't always the solution to teaching better judgement. It's like saying "Don't touch fire else it will burn you" and then you install devices on every fire device in your home so the kid never has to experience getting burnt.
I like the way this technology is heading but directing this at kids isn't the greatest solution. How about you make a device that detects someones alcohol levels when they get in a car and doesn't start? Now that's a better solution that would save more lives then a kid learning from their first speeding ticket. I'm not saying kids should be left unattended for everything in their lives, just don't treat your kids like criminals before they even commit the crime.
I'm surprised people don't trust their kids anymore. Have you lost the talent to teach your kid to be responsible and not drive crazy? When it comes down to it technology isn't always the solution to teaching better judgement. It's like saying "Don't touch fire else it will burn you" and then you install devices on every fire device in your home so the kid never has to experience getting burnt.
I like the way this technology is heading but directing this at kids isn't the greatest solution. How about you make a device that detects someones alcohol levels when they get in a car and doesn't start? Now that's a better solution that would save more lives then a kid learning from their first speeding ticket. I'm not saying kids should be left unattended for everything in their lives, just don't treat your kids like criminals before they even commit the crime.
Silly idea. Wont work.
My grand dad gave me his car keys when I was 14. I learnt driving in a week - ten days time.
I would have hated my parents and grand parents if they had such devices back then.
I feel kids these days are actually too protected. My mom never got upset if I came home a bit late. She'd get upset for sure if I wasnt in by dinner time. No, not because I was late but the dinner would get wasted!
I love my folks for giving me enough freedom.
My life's turned out pretty comfortable for all the uncaring and irresponsible upbringing I had.
Well, I reckon they done gone did a good 'nuff thing learnin' ya to drivin' so soon, sure enough.
as if your teenager needed another reason to resent you.
Can ford install this on beater cars? like my 97' explorer? Then it'd be fun to have.
80mph? I guess that rules out time travel.
I think the bottom line is sales and, yes, this could convince some parents to buy one vehicle over another. Beyond that, who cares? Of course I don't think it's effective, but isn't it all about money anyway? If anyone's ever needed a cash-grab, it's Ford!
In 2002, when I was learning to drive (I started very late -- I was a sophomore in college and I was terrified of driving because of all the idiots out there), my mom bought me a 1986 Chevy Nova for $900 and sent me to a month's worth of driving school every single day that summer. That's the best way to handle it, in my opinion. I used to drive fast (around 80 in 65 zones in Pennsylvania), and I regret doing so, as it really endangers peoples' lives. But back then, I was out of the house, two states away from home, and completely drunk on freedom. Now I'm 25, and I've done a lot of thinking about things in the past few years. I only drive 5 over on the highway and up to the speed limit on city streets now, because I've heard of so many people getting killed by irresponsible motorists here on the streets of New Haven. It's just terrible when you hear about an 11-year-old girl who gets killed by a hit-and-run driver burning a red light on a main road next to your residential neighborhood. Or a Yale med school student who was just crossing the street to get to class, or to go home. Unfortunately, those things both really happened.
I've seen statistics about how fast you need to be going to kill a pedestrian. It's not very fast, and the chance of death increases dramatically after about 25 mph. At 40 mph, you can pretty much forget about the pedestrian living, as the chance of death is around 90%, according to a graph I saw about car speeds in accidents vs. pedestrian fatality rates in those same accidents. I don't have sources for that data, so you'll have to either take my word for it or do some research on your own. Please slow down on America's roads, people. Saving X or Y minutes per day on the highway or local roads isn't worth inadvertently killing or injuring someone. Watch for pedestrians, as they do dumb things too. Always watch for cyclists as well, as America's cities are changing and becoming increasingly multi-modal in terms of transportation. Please be patient with pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists when you're behind the wheel and try to be relaxed, yet alert. Encourage your children to drive safely, and explain to them why it's important to do so, and that will do much more than any "nanny key" technology that comes out.
theres a $2700 replacement key
Its only a clever idea for people who let there kids drive there car.
For people who don't have kids.. only idea i can see this for is if you have amtes who borrow it and you think its a wise idea.
I SAY MEH
And this is why my first car will be a 1985 Corolla (why yes, I do watch Initial D, why do you ask?).
The funny thing is that this 'seatbelt-radio' thing is so obviously easy to bypass, just lock the seatbelt without you in the car and sit on it, or stick an old seatbelt connector in the holder.
Of course after doing that it means there's an even bigger hurdle before they use the seatbelt.
Or you can pick up another radio of course, or connect it to a booster so that 50%=250% volume.
Well Im almost 25 and Ive never gotten in an accident or even close to one but I agree this is a great idea, Ive seen too many kids (ie:my friends) do stupid crap and get in wrecks and whatnot. Very smart Ford, now give me electric/hydrogen thats worth a damn.
Does anybody seriously think this will stop kids from going straight to 100+ as soon as they're given a regular key? Or are the parents they're marketing to planning on holding their kids' hands until they're out of college?
How about this: Teach your kids some common sense and responsibility. Watching your kids over their shoulders all the time won't help them act like an adult when you stop scrutinizing their every move. Giving people a crutch to support their terrible parenting principles isn't helping anybody.
Also, as some people have said, kids will get around the system in I'm guessing an average of 1-2 weeks. It's never that hard to do.
I think this a good idea, because it's *optional* and can be used at the parents' discretion. Personally, I support the lowered radio volumes, mandated seatbelts, and limits on driving speeds. It could save a kid's life while they're still getting used to driving responsibly. To those who are saying that kids are likely to "binge" on irresponsibility once given the regular keys, it all depends on the parents' ability to communicate the reasons for giving them full driving privileges in the first place. I'd probably give my kids the dumb keys for 6-12 months, and then, if they had proven themselves, I'd tell them that I expect them to handle themselves responsibly when behind the wheel. One of my priorities when I have kids is that they trust me, and know that the reasoning for my decisions is not arbitrary.
I think people attacking the hypothetical parents who haven't raised their kids to trust them are missing the point. Sure if you are overbearing your kid will reject your protections and want to rebel, but there's no reason to assume that most parents are that way. This is a tool, to be used responsibly, or irresponsibly. The effects of its use will follow directly from the way it is employed.
Look at the risk of being "low ranked" you cant count on technology fixing your problems, you simply raise your children to be responsible and then hope they do there best. I see how this is appealing as a "quick-fix," but you obviously don't trust your children! Furthermore don't act all high and mighty because i have a feeling you weren't a angel of a child. Also, be glad the worse there doing is speeding, the could be doing drugs, drinking, having a shit-load of sex... or worse... If you can't trust your children then you must have raised them wrong, so it falls on your shoulders. This is just one small example of the problem plaguing the US, parents teach there children bad values (eating habits, responsibility, or self-esteem issues) and then search for the quickest way to fix the huge problem they have created. Did you notice no other nation seems to have this problem?
But paranoid, inadequate parents are aplenty these days, so it only makes sense. This is a part of "parenting through sheltering" doctrine to which I don't subscribe. Talk to your kids, for god's sake. Don't just discriminate against them because they're "dumb teenagers".
And don't give me that "you're a kid" shit. I'm a parent (of "not old enough to drive"), but the last bit of perception I want to give to my kids is that I'll push the "magic" button which will make them "better" or "safer" drivers. Or, that by pushing the button I'm somehow trying to control them without explaining the common sense.
In short, this is a sure way one or all of the below:
1. Alienate your children
2. Show them how much you distrust them
3. Give them something to talk about with their therapist when they're 40.
4. Have your car kicked, seat belt cut, car driven through a ditch at the limited top speed on purpose.
5. Have your kid complain about "chiming", until you turn it off.
6. To give your parenting responsibilities to a bunch of people in marketing.