New technology lets parents set controls for teen drivers
1. New technology lets parents set controls for teen drivers
Many parents fear letting their teenagers start to drive, and with good reason. Fatal auto crashes
are the leading cause of death among Americans ages 15 to 20. But new technology can help give
parents some peace of mind by letting them set a limit on the car's speed and by tracking the
location of their teenage driver on the road.
Ford and General Motors have taken two different approaches. Ford's MyKey lets parents set the
maximum speed of the car and limit the volume of the audio system. General Motors Family Link --
part of its OnStar service -- tracks the location of the car driven by a teenager and sends text
messages to the parents if it is driven outside a stipulated area. Here is a closer look at these two
systems.
Ford MyKey
Available in any model equipped vehicle tracking system with the MyFordTouch infotainment
system, this technology gives a special key to the parent that allows setting the controls. Maximum
speed can be set for 80 MPH. Beeper reminders will sound as the car reaches designated speeds --
say 50 MPH or 65 MPH. The parent can put limits on the volume of the audio system to minimize
distraction. And the radio will not turn on if seat belts are not fastened.
MyKey was developed as Ford safety executive Andy Sarkisian worried about his two daughters who
were nearing driving age. He says http://www.thefreedictionary.com/GPS he wanted a system that
allowed parents to set limits but still gave teens some driving freedom.
"MyKey is not about control, it's about love," he says. "It's about helping them manage the transition
from childhood to adulthood and keeping them safe while they do it."
General Motors Family Link
The GM system does not involve controls on the car itself. But it lets parents stipulate where the