Ford's key-with-a-chip to control teen drivers

Ford's MyKey will come standard in the 2010 Focus coupe. Other models will follow.

(Credit: Ford Motor)

Ford Motor has found a new way for parents to keep teen drivers in check when they lend them the car, the company said Monday.

MyKey, a car key with a chip, can be programmed to curtail the top speed of its user to 80 mph.

The MyKey will come standard with the 2010 Focus coupe and eventually will be available on other Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury models, according to Ford.

In addition to implementing a speed limit, the key can be used to limit the volume of the car stereo system and emit a chime for six seconds every five minutes until the driver puts on a seatbelt.

MyKey can also be programmed to chime once each time the car reaches 45 mph, 55 mph, and 65 mph to alert young drivers about their acceleration.

Another feature, useful to anyone who fails to notice when the fuel light goes on, chimes when the car is 75 miles from empty. (The light on a Ford usually goes on at 50 miles to empty.)

The new gadget is part of Ford's Driving Skills for Life program, which is dedicated to educating drivers not only about safety but also on techniques for reducing fuel consumption.

[umbrae]

How long before cops have remote control to these functions?

[Brian Grover]

I imagine it would be a long shot. I have never heard of On-Star being used to shut down an owner's car during a high speed pursuit when the owner of the vehicle is driving. Or On-Star being used by the police to track an unsuspecting individual.

[c|net Reader]

You've never heard of OnStar being used that way? It has indeed been done.<br /><br />As for using this Ford feature to control cars, the issue is whether the communications are radio frequency based or whether the key interfaces with circuitry in the ignition. If the former, it is possible to build a back door for authorities to use. The police would then need a transmitter for each company that builds something like this key. It could be a useful thing to use to control a drunk driver, but I would imagine that criminals would simply disable the receiver to avoid granting that control to the police.

[Dalkorian]

Unlike Blonde-Star, I don't see how the police could use this. Limiting the car to below 80 MPH and making the dashboard ping the driver isn't much help when chasing a teen across town. Maybe they could "trick" the kid by turning on the low fuel warning light?<br />;-)

[MickBurke]

How is this helpful? You can limit your kids to double the average speed limit? But at least it will be cause a distracting and annoying noise when they are driving 75. Pointless.

[jazzmandan]

Agreed but it still helps on the highway. What about the stereo wouldn't work and it beeped constantly until all seat belts were done up. <br /><br />Or better yet just limit the kids to 1.5l cars.

[c|net Reader]

Are you serious that limiting top speed won't help? It will prevent 100+ mph drag racing, etc. (I have no idea what top speed that particular vehicle offers, but the idea has merit generally.)<br /><br />I agree that the radio ought not to work if the seat belt isn't fastened.

[shootdraxxus]

The little 1.8L Hondas are the ones always zipping around and trying to race. Any kid that wants to go fast, will go fast. The acceleration would have to either be limited by the engineering of the car itself or electronically.

[jazzmandan]

Should be limited to 65mph. I'm from the UK and amazed that people are paranoid about kids falling over in the playground only to let them kill themselves and usually several of their friend when they are driving at too early an age.<br /><br />Your full decision making capacity isn't mature until your 22 years old.

[RyanHettrick]

You can't put an age limit on "full decision making capacity". Who says it's 22? There's no standard for that.<br /><br />Nowadays, everyone is driving 80mph on the highway. Actually, let me rephrase, everyone is driving 80 on the parkway! If you limit them to just 65, then they would probably be less safe than if they were going 80. 80 is a nice speed for a highway or parkway when driving non-recklessly and everyone is going the same speed. A nice car system would use a form of GPS to determine if they were on a highway, parkway, or city road to determine the proper speed limit they should be allowed.<br /><br />To the first commenter: I hope that's a joke because we all know that if cops had such devices they would definitely abuse them and eventually such controls would somehow be stolen and put into the wrong hands.

[c|net Reader]

I set my cruise control for 65 mph in 65 zones and let most of the rest of the drivers fight over the rest of the road. I have yet to be rear ended. Your rationalization just encourages idiocy. At 80 mph, reaction time to every hazard is reduced and vehicle reaction to driver actions are greater. Thus, a quick lane shift to avoid an obstacle can lead to loss of control much more easily at 80 than 65.<br /><br />How about if everyone just slows down and teaches the kids to do the same!

[C433Z]

it's actually about 25, which is the age you're allowed to rent a car.

[Lerianis]

Bull, Jazzmandan. That is a LOC used by adults and older people to discriminate against young people, teenagers and children.<br />The fact is that the decision making capacity isn't mature until 22 years old because WE DON'T ALLOW OUR CHILDREN TO MAKE THEIR OWN CHOICES BEFORE THAT AGE! Or, rather, you don't. I let my children do whatever they wanted, as long as they were not breaking a few simple rules: 1. Don't damage other people's property, 2. Don't physically harm someone else without their permission, 3. Don't force anyone into sexual situations with threats of force or actual physical force, 4. Don't steal anything from anyone else. Outside of those 4 things, I basically allowed them to do whatever they wanted to do, and it worked QUITE well. The few times that other adults came to complain to me about my children, they were trying to get them in trouble for doing something that they didn't want their children to do.<br />I told them "Sorry, they weren't breaking MY rules, so I am not going to chastise them at all, and if YOU try to do it, you are going to be in deep **** with me, because only I scold my children."

[WhuzYoDaddy]

As a parent of two kids who will be driving in the next 3-4 years, I applaud this technology.

[pakgh2]

What ever happened to teaching teens personal responsibility. Limiting Speed and Radio Volume will not solve any problems. If anything this will move teens speeding off the highways and onto neighborhood side streets. A much better solution would be to limit the cars horsepower. If a car can't speed up fast much of the thrill is gone. You don't really need all that much horsepower either. I did just fine in an underpowered Geo Prism.

[techman21]

Good idea! My '79 diesel Rabbit was a good learning car - that thing was gutless!

[Dalkorian]

I had a '78 Olds Delta 88 diesel in high school. You know nothing about "gutless". It kept me from getting into to much trouble on the streets, though it was amazing how durable that car was off road!<br /><br />I do agree that technology can't replace responsible parenting. Unobtrusive limits like these will help to enforce responsible thinking though.<br /><br />That said, kids will be kids. The one feature I don't like is the one that chimes every 10 MPH after 45, I can see that turning into a game - "how fast can I get it to ping?".

[Lerianis]

Here is a better idea: why don't we stop trying to say that it is 'irresponsible' to race and start allowing children a place to race, where they will be reasonably safe, with things like Go Karts, etc. That is what my parents did, they let me go to a Go-Kart track or had me play a racing game when I needed to let out my 'need for speed'.... and I still do that today, rather than put other people into danger by racing in a 2 ton car.

[pakgh2]

What ever happened to teaching teens personal responsibility. Limiting Speed and Radio Volume will not solve any problems. If anything this will move teens speeding off the highways and onto neighborhood side streets. A much better solution would be to limit the cars horsepower. If a car can't speed up fast much of the thrill is gone. You don't really need all that much horsepower either. I did just fine in an underpowered Geo Prism.

[blueshore]

At least is something to start with. Think as training wheels. Perhaps in the future there will be some GPS and cell phone integration (to create a virtual fence or to track if they are going 55 in a 35 zone). There are some challenges also ahead (for the cops to have access to this info, well, there was an interesting case years ago; not to mention a potential hacking. Just think, you car can be shutdown in a no so good place, and it is clipped to go no faster than 30...).

[blsith]

So they can do 80 in a 25, instead of 90 in a 25.. great idea.<br /><br />Most kids I know speed on city streets, at least as much if not more than on the highway.

[Dalkorian]

Personally, when I was a kid the only times I ever broke 100 MPH was on the highway. In fact, to date the only times I've ever broke 100 MPH was on the highway.<br /><br />I see your point, it should be tied to a GPS to determine the fastest possible safe speed for the road and adjust accordingly, but wanted to point out that the highway can look like a speedway to a kid.

[pjhenry1216]

My Honda Civic already has a few second chime every few seconds for both the driver AND passenger and it doesn't matter who is driving, kid or not. That ability is not new. I say, just have a recorder that records the speeds and let the parents look at it. Allow it to use personal encryption so it can't be used in court without your permission.

[Benf]

We in the US dont teach kids anything any longer, Mom and Dad work so junior or juniorette get dropped off at the child care 5 or 6 days a week pick em up at night, be with the kids for a couple of hours, go to bed and do it all over next day, the day care raises your kids untill they can stay home alone then the TV raises them untill they get old enough to hang out with friends then the friends, the ones that were raised like junior, influence them, dont spank em' you'll go to jail, I'm 70 year old, my 7 kids have gone to college and all have good above average job's, familys and the Wifes stay home and raise the kds like a wife should, all this on a Fremans, oops, Firefighters pay, your kids are what YOU make them, if they screw up the finger needs to point ay YOU as well as them.

[drivesafe]

Amazing in todays world one parent can't keep the food on the table and a roof over their heads, both parents HAVE TO WORK. Yes parents need to talk to their children about road safety and more but does a mother have to be home all day to do this? 70 God Bless you, I wish things were simpler as it used to be but unfortunately it's not that way any more. Prices of rents are outrageous let alone owning a home. <br />The other unfortunate thing is kids will yes you to death and go out and do whatever they want. We can only instill so much and hope something hits home. <br />If a parent really wants to keep their childs speed down take their cars to get the speed governors turned down.!

[Dalkorian]

"Amazing in todays world one parent can't keep the food on the table and a roof over their heads, both parents HAVE TO WORK."<br /><br />Give us a break, that's a pathetic excuse and nothing more. I know many parents who have worked it out so that one parent is always home for the kids. It's really not that hard, just stagger your shifts (she works days, he works nights - the evening hours in between is "family time", along with weekends when/if possible).<br /><br />But that doesn't give you your "me" time to go to the gym, aerobics, drinking, poker night or whatever else you do when you've got rid of the kids. But it's not supposed to be about you anymore, it's about the kids. The ones you have dumped onto child care and the school system to raise for you.<br /><br />Parenthood is a life sentence with a chance at parole in 18 years. No one forced you to have kids, you did this to yourself. Deal with it before we're forced to lock your little monster up in federal prison for life.

[Idyot]

Well... maybe you all need to get one of these for you teen(s). Read the 4th paragraph in the link: <br />http://www.teensafedriver.com/overview.htm <br /> <br />In this next link a teen driver actually finds herself apologizing to the camera when she realizes she did something to trigger it: <br />http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21225268/ <br /> <br />Some would say that it is "big brother" intruding on the teen. If an adult in the passenger seat causes a teen to have a heightened state of awareness while driving - which leads to fewer teen driving accidents, then I applaud any device that has the same affect on the teen as the adult passenger.

[jamidwyer]

I like this. Controlling the stereo volume is little control freaky, but the rest of these are helpful safety measures. I definitely could have used the gas tank reminder well into my early twenties (heck, I'd still use it today). My only concern is that to pass quickly in the oncoming traffic lane, you sometimes have to hit ninety. If a kid doesn't know that he can't go above eighty, he might be in some danger in that situation.

[Dalkorian]

Not to argue, but I can't think of anytime when you HAVE to hit 90 to be safe. If you don't have room to pass, you shouldn't be passing. Period.

[Lerianis]

There are plenty of times on a 65mph road where you have to hit 90 in order to pass something like an 18wheeler quickly, Dalkorian. My father has had to do that MANY times going up to West Virginia, with only himself and the 18 wheeler on the road. In order to get past them quickly enough (the rules say within 10 seconds) for an 18 wheeler going 65, you have to be going near 85-90 to pass it.

[drivesafe]

Though I guess Ford is trying to do some good { though 80 mph is still way too fast} what people need to know is that EVERY Vehicle has a SPEED GOVERNOR on their vehicle. This can be set at a lower speed for almost nothing. You can take your vehicle to any dealership or repair shop and have the speed governor set for a lower speed and not have to worry about some key chip, at a large price I am sure. <br />And 80? They really should rethink that, most highways are only posted at 60 mph and that is fast enough! People think flying down the road will get you home or to work faster until it ends you up in the hospital or jail. Think about it people speeding kills!!!

[Dalkorian]

Many places have speed limits well over 60 MPH, I've seen 70 and 75 MPH highways in many states. 80 isn't that unreasonable in those circumstances (it's typically the speed of traffic), but note that in a school zone 80 is insane. It's all relative.<br /><br />Speed doesn't kill, being stupid does. There is a difference.

[BenFlavoredCandy]

70 is the maximum speed limit in most of the southern &#38; midwestern US, 75 in many western states and 80 in parts of Texas. "Most" highways are not posted at 60. One can gain this view by only driving in and around cities on interstate highways, which is far from the majority of highway miles.<br /><br />Anyway, the real issue here is for parents to teach their children responsibility. I have only been driving 6 years and have never done anything my parents would be ashamed of because they taught me to be responsible and understand the consequences of stupid behavior. Someone who needs a car to control their kids for them is probably blaming GTA 4 for their violent behavior, too.

[spothannah]

Why does your culture teach the value of "immense power", "immense speed", "being "cool" by taking reckless behavior or mean behavior as positive"? These problems are only the surface structure of a complete system that is no longer a survivor strategy. You must change if you are to survive as a species. <br />The membership committee.

[shootdraxxus]

So this is aimed at teens....What about all the adults who SUCK AT DRIVING! Did you ever stop to think your kid was watching you when you flipped someone the bird after you cut them off? Perhaps something more subtle like trying to catch that yellow light instead of slowing down to stop, or eating while driving?

[Dalkorian]

Naw, today's parents are far to busy dropping the kids off (at day care, at school, at home) to influence their decisions. It's the government's fault, the school system's fault, the day care center's fault - never the parents.<br />;-)

[cpriz]

this is rediculous. As a teen, my freedom is being taken away. Soon, cops will be using them. Our government is taking over as well technology. America, the land of the free. ********!

[Dalkorian]

What freedom is being taken away exactly? I'd be FAR more scared of Blonde-Star than I would something innocuous like this. So you can't do over 80. Big deal, you don't have the experience behind the wheel to know what to do in an emergency at those speeds anyway (speed doesn't kill, but stupidity does and stupidity works MUCH FASTER as speed increases). Afraid the cops will use a back door to this system to ... what? Chime the driver until s/he goes insane? Turn on the low fuel warning light?<br /><br />Take a deep breath kid, you'd be lucky to get a car like this. I had a backside-ugly primer gray Olds diesel when I was your age. Slower than a glacier, it at least came after the era of seat belts but didn't have much in the safety or excitement departments. I still figured out how to have a great time with that car though. These are your best years, quit crying and enjoy them!

[scifidaddyo]

There are many GPS units that warn if you are speeding. the better use of this technology would be to: <br />1: use a GPS syle interface that knows the MPH of the street you are on and won't allow the vehicle to be driven more that 5 mph above that limit (5 mph due to variances in speedometer calibration and accuracy). This would apply to ALL drivers, not just teens. <br />2: don't allow the car to start unless the seat belt is buckled. a sensor on the seatbelt could tell if the driver was lazy and buckled the belt and then sat on the seat. This would ensure that the seat belt was around the body. easy enough and shouldn't take too much to incorporate this functionality. <br />3: limit acceleration rate <br />4: radar/laser/IR tracinkg device that keeps the diver from tailgating the car in front. similar to what is used in the 'smart' cruise control units.

[garlord]

I don't think "scifidaddyo" thought this through:<br />1. Using GPS to limit speed may sound good on the surface, but ...<br /> - What happens when the GPS is wrong? If you've ever used GPS, you'll know we'll end up with even more traffic congestion because several drivers cannot exceed 30 mph on the freeway.<br /> - What happens when your son falls off the roof and you live in a rural area, far from ambulances? Not only will people die because their cars will not let them be in a hurry, but the manufacturer will be sued out of existence.<br /> - The public doesn't take kindly to having their time wasted and their lives controlled by fascist policies. Good luck getting re-elected if you are a politician who tries this idea.<br /> - This will increase the price of a new car, putting more buyers out of reach of newer, safer, and more efficient vehicles.<br /> - US DOT studies show that speed limits are set 5-15 mph on average BELOW the ideal safest speed for roads in the US. This is a lucrative way for local governmnets to extort revenue from the public, so they will also fight this policy. Now maybe, instead of limiting speed, the car notified police, local governments would support it ... They do this in Singapore, which is NOT a model we want to follow.<br /><br />2. Preventing the engine from starting unless the seat belt is fastened means more stranded drivers when the sensors fail, and increased vehicle prices. How are the cops going to make up for all of those lost seat belt tickets? How about internet download taxes or maybe a tax for speaking your mind. We could have higher tax rates for speech that our Dear Leader deems is offensive.<br /><br />3. Limiting acceleration is not a new idea. I believe some cars (Corvette?) already have a "valet mode" to limit horsepower. But it is the choice of the owner when to use it.<br /><br />4. If you use radar to prevent tailgating:<br /> - Without the ability to turn this system off, it will cause a standstill in heavy traffic. Other drivers will continuously pull into the "safe following distance" in front of you.<br /> - Drivers will become accustomed to it and trust it. When these systems fail (and everything fails), there will be accidents and accompanying lawsuits.

[sideswiper66]

I can't believe that some people on here are saying "this isn't enough, make the speed limit 65." I live in Southern California, where the average speed limit is 60 (65 in some places) and the traffic moves at about 70 on every freeway. If the teenage driver of this car was in an emergency situation, avoiding a truck, or quickly having to get around someone for instance, a 65 or even 70mph cap would put them in great danger.

[garlord]

I don't think "scifidaddyo" thought this through:<br />1. Using GPS to limit speed may sound good on the surface, but ...<br /> - What happens when the GPS is wrong? If you've ever used GPS, you'll know we'll end up with even more traffic congestion because several drivers cannot exceed 30 mph on the freeway.<br /> - What happens when your son falls off the roof and you live in a rural area, far from ambulances? Not only will people die because their cars will not let them be in a hurry, but the manufacturer will be sued out of existence.<br /> - The public doesn't take kindly to having their time wasted and their lives controlled by fascist policies. Good luck getting re-elected if you are a politician who tries this idea.<br /> - This will increase the price of a new car, putting more buyers out of reach of newer, safer, and more efficient vehicles.<br /> - US DOT studies show that speed limits are set 5-15 mph on average BELOW the ideal safest speed for roads in the US. This is a lucrative way for local governmnets to extort revenue from the public, so they will also fight this policy. Now maybe, instead of limiting speed, the car notified police, local governments would support it ... They do this in Singapore, which is NOT a model we want to follow.<br /><br />2. Preventing the engine from starting unless the seat belt is fastened means more stranded drivers when the sensors fail, and increased vehicle prices. How are the cops going to make up for all of those lost seat belt tickets? How about internet download taxes or maybe a tax for speaking your mind. We could have higher tax rates for speech that our Dear Leader deems is offensive.<br /><br />3. Limiting acceleration is not a new idea. I believe some cars (Corvette?) already have a "valet mode" to limit horsepower. But it is the choice of the owner when to use it.<br /><br />4. If you use radar to prevent tailgating:<br /> - Without the ability to turn this system off, it will cause a standstill in heavy traffic. Other drivers will continuously pull into the "safe following distance" in front of you.<br /> - Drivers will become accustomed to it and trust it. When these systems fail (and everything fails), there will be accidents and accompanying lawsuits.

[walwebster]

Get used to the idea -- the Golden Age of Motoring is over. Insurance companies think this stuff is the duck's nuts, and they'll make you pay till you agree with them. And if we know anything about technology, it's that it moves and morphs so fast it'll make an 80 mph cap look like snail's pace. This is only the very thin end of what will (very quickly prove to be) a very fat wedge. <br /><br />Technology's one of the least expensive ways to make the roads safer. Helluva lot less enjoyable for some of us, but a lot safer, too, for most -- many of whom frankly need all the help they can get. Go out now and get yourself a good old all-mechanical banger, and you might just be one of the last to be compelled to retrofit it with nanny-tech.