They introduced the MyKey system today. Parents can set speed limits on their kids; set limits on how loud the stereo can be; seat-belt reminders...

What happened to parental upbringing that put these things in the kids head? The parents are being let off the hook again by letting someone else set the limits (kind of).

So as you can tell, I'm not really for this, but chime in with your thoughts...

If you want to read about - http://detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081006/AUTO01/810060398

I tend to agree with you Mark...

I agree with you on the parenting thing, BUT....
I've seen too many kids today end up in serious crashes, one died. Good parents, good upbringing, just too much influence from friends and the culture. Would i want this for my kid today? Absolutely.

I would not have liked it when i was a growing up but it probally would not have been a bad idea.

I cant think of any objections at this point to the speed limiter. I have great parents and was a pretty responsible kid. However, I still thought driving at 100+ mph was ok, if you were a skilled driver like I was in my teens and early 20s.

I don’t know, my parents were all over setting rules and trying to impose limits. I however, was not the best listener....

The trouble is, what will people think when the kids' actual parents are no longer in control, and The Nanny takes over? I like the concept, but the technology should be feared IMO.

To say nothing of the idea that if you're old enough to be behind the wheel, you're old enough to reap the benefits AND suffer the consequences.

+1
i have a hard time not thinking that just about every teen is going to push and exceed their parental guidelines in an effort to find their own,
let that happen with their political, moral, or social views, and keep driving on today's highways a bit more regulated

Anybody notice that was WalterMutt's 10,000 post??

whoo-hooo!

I'm against this whole concept. You have to respect the machine for what it is capable of doing. Cars kill, and you have to know how to operate them so they don't. Limiting the speed or volume of the music will not make a bad driver (like all teens are) a good driver. The onus is on the operator to be in control of the vehicle 100%, 100% of the time. If a kid can't manage that responsibility, they shouldn't be behind the wheel of the car. It's up to parents to teach their kids how to be responsible for their actions, and if they fail there, it's pretty evident in all aspects of a kid's life. Handicapping a car isn't going to fix the problem.

It will use a special "kid Key" ? Look for a black market in adult, no limit keys.

Its nice to have that confidence in your children. I hope that I do when mine get to that age. I've learned a lot about the development of the teenaged brain from a friend whose 22 year old son is an addict and the parents have dealt with psychologists for several years. Without getting in depth, there is sufficient evidence, as far I am concerned, that teenagers do not process information in the same way as a mature adult, which helps explain risky behavior of teenagers. That is to say that risky behavior may be inherent to teenagers, despite our best parenting.

Based on my own personal experience and what I have since learned, I will not be buying my son or daughters a high performance car. That is not to say a 90 hp Honda can not be dangerous, just saying...

When my kids turn 16, getting a license is not a given. I will need to have a high degree of confidence they will be deserving of the responsibility to drive, nanny car or not.

Sounds like Ford is tapping on to parental fears and hope to offer something people will buy into.

The arguments on both sides of this issue are compelling. When I think about the things I did with my Dad's 62 Ford station wagon, I can see the use of such keys. And it is not a lot of modification needed. The keys can already be set with seat position and other controls. The keyless entry system can also be used to set the seats. I doubt that keys will still exist in another ten years. There will be a sensor that will keep track of who is authorized to drive the car. Where the special key system may have its greatest benefits is with those who are restricted by the courts. I would love to see a car that can read the driver's condition from the grip on the wheel and determine if they are able to drive. It could then be programmed to call the police, ambulance, or taxi as required.

It still falls upon the parent to establish the limits, but we are exploring the ways that technology can improve parenting skills. This falls under the same category as the gps tracking systems and special cell phones for kids.

My concern is that it could put an unrealistic trust into the technology. If 2 cars with speed limiter set to 30 collide head on, somebody is likely gonna be seriously hurt or killed. Sounds like a lawsuit waiting to happen when a parent sets a limiter and kid still gets hurt or injured. It would have to be all Ford's fault at that point!

I agree HB, they are likely to get sued.

I read also where Ford will have some radar/braking system to warn of a potential collison coming out soon also.
Ok, I went and found a link to that story before I posted. Ford's Latest Safety Brake-through -- Collision Warning With Brake Support