Filed under: Car Buying, Coupes, Safety, Tech, Ford
Ford introduces car-limiting MyKey for worried parents
Ford announced today a new technology called MyKey that will be standard on the 2010 Focus Coupe and quickly spread to the rest of the Blue Oval's lineup. MyKey can do three basic things: allow parents to limit a vehicle's top speed to 80 mph and/or the stereo's volume up to 44% of its max, and set a sustaining chime if the seatbelts aren't being used. Clearly targeted towards worry wart parents, the MyKey system is meant to keep teens safe despite their protestation that a system like this curtails their kiddy freedoms. Ford did some polling and found that 67% of teens didn't like the idea, though that number fell to 36% if the MyKey system led to parents letting the kids use the car more. The MyKey system uses off-the-shelf technology from within Ford, particularly the SecuriLock passive anti-theft system, to identify which keys are in the ignition and therefore which driving mode to enable. It's certainly feels a lot like Big Brother, but we suppose parents have the right to play Big Bro' when the safety of their children is at stake.
Other things the MyKey system can do is permanently enable the traction control system and set chimes for when the car reaches 45, 55 or 65 mph. This technology will likely make the Ford Focus Coupe a popular choice for both parents and teens, the latter of which may be appeased by the SNYC system that's also available in these cars.
[Source: Ford]
PRESS RELEASE
FORD'S NEW MYKEY SYSTEM HELPS TEENS DRIVE SAFER, CONSERVE FUEL; GIVES PARENTS PEACE OF MIND
- MyKey™, another innovation from the company that introduced SYNC®, allows parents to limit speed and audio volume to encourage teens to drive safer and improve fuel efficiency.
- Harris Interactive Survey shows that many parents would allow teens to drive more often if their vehicle was equipped with MyKey – helping young drivers build road safety experience.
- MyKey will debut as a standard feature next year on the 2010 Focus coupe and will quickly be offered on many other Ford, Lincoln and Mercury models.
DEARBORN, Mich., Oct. 6, 2008 – Ford Motor Company is introducing an innovative new technology – called MyKey – designed to help parents encourage their teen-agers to drive safer and more fuel efficiently, and increase safety-belt usage.
Ford's MyKey feature – which debuts next year as standard equipment on the 2010 Focus coupe and will quickly become standard on many other Ford, Lincoln and Mercury models – allows owners to program a key that can limit the vehicle's top speed and audio volume. MyKey also encourages safety-belt usage, provides earlier low-fuel warnings and can be programmed to sound chimes at 45, 55 and 65 miles per hour.
"Ford not only offers industry-leading crash protection and crash avoidance systems, we also are committed to developing new technologies such as MyKey that encourage safer driving behavior," said Susan Cischke, Ford group vice president of Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering. "MyKey can help promote safer driving, particularly among teens, by encouraging seat belt use, limiting speed and reducing distractions."
MyKey is appealing to parents of teen drivers, including 75 percent who like the speed-limiting feature, 72 percent who like the more insistent safety-belt reminder, and 63 percent who like the audio limit feature, according to a recent Harris Interactive Survey conducted for Ford.
About 50 percent of those who would consider purchasing MyKey also said they would allow their children to use the family vehicle more often if it were equipped with the new technology. The added seat time can help teens build their driving skills in a more controlled setting, complementing graduated licensing laws that give young drivers more driving freedom as they get older.
More than half of parents surveyed worry that their teen-age children are driving at unsafe speeds, talking on hand-held cell phones or texting while driving, or otherwise driving distracted. More than a third of parents also are concerned that their teens do not always buckle their safety belts when driving.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), teens are more likely to take risks such as speeding – a contributing factor in 30 percent of all fatal crashes. Teens also are less likely to wear safety belts than older drivers.
Teens surveyed by Harris said they are largely open to MyKey if it means they will have more freedom to drive. Initially, 67 percent of teens polled said they wouldn't want MyKey features. However, if using MyKey would lead to greater driving privileges, only 36 percent would object to the technology.
"We've upgraded an existing, proven technology – the SecuriLock passive anti-theft system – with some simple software upgrades to develop a new unique feature that we believe will resonate with customers," said Jim Buczkowski, director, Electrical and Electronic Systems Engineering – the same team that developed SYNC in partnership with Microsoft. "We also developed MyKey's functions in such a way to quickly spread it across multiple vehicle lines, giving us the ability to go mass market in the spirit of other Ford innovations such as safety belts, stability control and SYNC."
Holding the key
The MyKey system allows the parent to program any key through the vehicle message center, which updates the SecuriLock™ passive anti-theft system. When the MyKey is inserted into the ignition, the system reads the transponder chip in the key and immediately identifies the MyKey code, which enables certain default driving modes, including:
Persistent Ford Beltminder™ with audio mute. Ford's Beltminder system typically provides a six-second reminder chime every minute for five minutes. With MyKey, the Beltminder chime continues at the regular interval and the audio system is muted until the safety belt is buckled. A message center display "Buckle Up to Unmute Radio" also appears on the instrument cluster.
Earlier low-fuel warning. Rather than a warning at 50 miles to empty, MyKey provides a warning at 75 miles to empty.
If MyKey is in the ignition, features such as Park Aid and BLISTM (Blind Spot Information System) with Cross Traffic Alert cannot be deactivated.
Additional MyKey features that can be programmed through the vehicle's message center setup menu:
- Limited top speed of 80 mph
- Traction control system, that limits tire spin, cannot be deactivated
- Limited audio volume to 44 percent of total volume
- A speed alert chime at 45, 55 or 65 mph
Safety is the key
MyKey is just one way that Ford is helping teens drive more safely. Ford Motor Company Fund's Driving Skills for Life (DSFL) program helps young motorists master four critical driving skills – hazard recognition, vehicle handling, space management, and speed management – that help address the majority of dangerous driving conditions. More than 3,000 teens have participated in DSFL ride-and-drive events. And more than 500,000 people have used the training course since 2003 on www.drivingskillsforlife.com.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
John Johnson 10:33AM (10/06/2008)
Well, I dunno about the stereo part, but the speed limiter seems like a good idea. Would have saved me from speeding a lot when I first got my license!
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Josiah 11:06AM (10/06/2008)
Imagine merging onto an expressway and with an 18 wheeler barreling down behind you, you hit your 80 mph max and cannot speed up to get out of it's way.
But but but, think of the children!
TJ 11:10AM (10/06/2008)
1) the 18 wheeler would not be barreling down on you at over 80mph in the right lane.
2) If you are referring to a merge situation... um, slow down rather than speed up.
See my posts about increased drivers training, rather than electronic nanny's.
Judy Zik 12:11PM (10/06/2008)
I love this idea except I wouldn't just limit it to children. This would be the key the valet would get. I also tend to be someone who never likes to lend my vehicle but if I felt I needed to this is the key my irresponsible brother would get too. It makes sense as a way of giving vehicle owners a way of limiting how their vehicle is used when it is borrowed.
Randy 2:24PM (10/06/2008)
@Judy Zik
that's a brilliant idea! Limit valet to 30MPH and half horsepower
too!
I drive a 400HP car and HATE giving my keys to valet! I just know
they'll nail the gas when I'm in the door! Not that I really care
that much, it's just the principal of it! LOL
Vroom vroom!
brent 4:13PM (10/06/2008)
1) this situation is far fetched - the need to go that fast
2) there are safer solutions in such a situation
3) fast reactions involving high speeds are unlikely to produce good results from an inexperienced driver
4) you are worried about kids not being able to quickly accelerate past other vehicles at 75mph in a focus... because of a speed limiter?
JAZ 7:51PM (10/09/2008)
I don't think this is a good idea. It's sort of ruins the fun of being 16 and having fun in your first car.
adamtech78 10:34AM (10/06/2008)
would somebody thing about the children???
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Tim 11:38AM (10/06/2008)
Josiah,
The semi barrelling down the right lane at 80mph actually has the right of way. You, being a vehicle merging into traffic must yeild the right of way. I know that is a little known fact, especially in states that do not use yeild signs at the end of an on-ramp (MI for one.) Although, I for one like to speed up as quickly as I can and get in front of the semi!
esteva03 12:15PM (10/06/2008)
yes think about the children. stop babying them and actually teach them how to drive. this just makes them more ignorant at the time they get their own car. this prolongs the childlness in teenagers. we baby their baby years, we baby their development years, now we baby their teenage years, by the time they are supposed to be adults they behave like 12 year olds. i'm 24 and in no way and old person, but people around my age sometimes amaze me in the level of their recognition of respect, character and responsibility.
all this aside, as a good note, i don't know the numbers, but probably this will save people's life.
jv2k 2:30PM (10/06/2008)
"yes think about the children. stop babying them and actually teach them how to drive. this just makes them more ignorant at the time they get their own car."
Most teens don't listen anyway.
People in the comments page around these parts are pretty ignorant. Teenagers speed. You can make them go to a school for years and they will still drive terribly.
I think the key is a good idea. It'll make sure the kids follow the laws you enforce.
TJ 10:34AM (10/06/2008)
I actually think its not that bad of an idea...
Although I would prefer the parents take the time to teach the kids to drive properly instead.
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BoneHeadOtto 12:09PM (10/06/2008)
Kids dont always do what parents teach and in the case of a car, they could end up killing someone when they dont.
TJ 10:49AM (10/06/2008)
I understand that kids don't always do what they are taught, but are you really arguing against increased drivers training for teenagers?
John P. 11:13AM (10/06/2008)
For the first time in my adult life I actually think this kind of parental control is a great idea. Of course it would be better to teach your kids to be responsible, but we all remember what it was like the first time we had a V8 under our foot back when we were learning to drive at 12.
Pat 11:24AM (10/06/2008)
But who needs parenting when you have large corporations and electronics? With TV and internet, kids practically raise themselves nowadays.
Red 11:32AM (10/06/2008)
@ John P.: "For the first time in my adult life I actually think this kind of parental control is a great idea."
Honestly, this sounds like a parent that believes children need "friends" and not parents". Not picking on you or anything, but I hope you don't believe parental control in general is a bad idea.
As far as this technology, I think this is a great idea. I've said it again and again, but cars may've gotten faster and smarter and more focused, but drivers most certainly haven't. It is extremely important for parents to get involved on a very hands-on level during driver education (or lack-thereof in many cases).
John P. 12:03PM (10/06/2008)
Red: Honestly, this sounds like a parent that believes children need "friends" and not parents". Not picking on you or anything, but I hope you don't believe parental control in general is a bad idea....
I agree with you, no worries. :)
I'm also saying that if you taught your kids correctly, as I believe my parents taught me, you'd never need this kind of thing in the first place. Parents, not Govt. should be responsible for their kids.
AIXMighty 10:36AM (10/06/2008)
I think this is a great idea.
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Soccer Mom 10:37AM (10/06/2008)
Aside from the stereo volume restrictions, shouldn't the same rules be applied to the parents as well? Like maximum speed restrictions (I doubt people take Focuses to a race track), or seat belt alerts?
Reply