Re: Ford introduces car-limiting MyKey for worried parents

**FUNKED1** · 10-06-2008, 09:01 PM

FYI There are 80 mph speed limits in some areas of the US.

**=DdogG=** · 10-06-2008, 09:55 PM

my thoughts:

enable cell phone jamming. (or at least force bt hands free and 'sync')
radio to 44% (kinda arbitrary - I would make it customizable)
reduce acceleration ability from standing start (disable any burnouts or racing)
disable engine without engaged seatbelts in EVERY seat with at least 40lb in it - including rear.
limit speed to a customizable speed (set by parent through sync)
gps tracking (and reporting when entering or exiting parent designated area)
breathalizer - anything over 0.0 - no starty-starty.

I think this would eliminate a lot of issues with teen drivers.

**Bamboo** · 10-06-2008, 10:48 PM

Originally Posted by Bloedig

Why is everyone now a days so quick to do what is "safe" and toss freedoms out the window? Post 911 is a sad place for the American ideal.

And as for reasons to have radio over 44% or whatever it is, heck yeah. Ford stock radio may need to be to 75% just to hear. lol

As for 80 plus? Yes, interstates (most 75 mph speed limit in my state) and some of us use our street cars to race at the local track, so no speed limiters please (170 artificial limit on the Audi is crap IMHO).

You did not read the article at all did you? We are talking about limiting a kid riding driving their parent's car, not what you would do with your own car that you paid money for.

**El_Gringo_Grande** · 10-06-2008, 11:02 PM

Originally Posted by =DdogG=

my thoughts:

enable cell phone jamming. (or at least force bt hands free and 'sync')
radio to 44% (kinda arbitrary - I would make it customizable)
reduce acceleration ability from standing start (disable any burnouts or racing)
disable engine without engaged seatbelts in EVERY seat with at least 40lb in it - including rear.
limit speed to a customizable speed (set by parent through sync)
gps tracking (and reporting when entering or exiting parent designated area)
breathalizer - anything over 0.0 - no starty-starty.

I think this would eliminate a lot of issues with teen drivers.

All good ideas.

Except for the acceleration thing. What if there are Zombies after them? Have to be able to get away from them QUICK!

Seriously. Jamming the cell phone while moving would be great thing. Ditto for the gps tracking.

**206 Wolfpack** · 10-07-2008, 12:15 AM

GPS would make every teen convinced that their parents are old nazis, the cell phone idea would be pretty bad.. Cell phones are life savers during times, if you have a jammer then that means no calling parents to say whatever and (yes their could be a way around) no dialing 911 to report your car is on fire and your stuck inside.

Speed is fine at 80mph, would be fine at 85 even 90 is absolute maximum.

Only a stupid @** person would try and race when they know their car messes up when trying to break 80mph.

Seat belt and engine cut off is a bad idea period.

Breathalizers can malfunction leaving the driver stuck in his car sober as the pope.. Well the pope without the wine, it isnt common for them to mess up but it happens and then the driver can be stuck for 12hrs+ inside the car going nowhere.

Limiting debicel(sp) level isnt a bad idea at all, music gets people hyped, hyped people like to do stupid/fun stuff like going 90+ in a 50 zone.

**Bamboo** · 10-07-2008, 12:38 AM

I'm also thinking that considering teen drivers are some of the most expensive to insure, with this setup you could get a pretty decent discount from the insurance man.

I still remember the first night I was allowed to take my mom's 86' Blazer to the store by myself. First thing I did was stop and pick up by best bud, and then proceeded to try and smoke the tires, and then see what would happen when I hit all the speed bumps in the mall parking lot going as fast as I could. Still remember that the Arowsmith song "Livin' on the Edge" came on the radio while I was doing this. It was like the perfect dream moment.

Thank god I didn't kill my mom's car, or she would have killed me, as it was our only car.

**RudeBoy** · 10-07-2008, 12:48 AM

Nope. All you old guys have lost your touch. Whats being a teenager without loud music in your car, and the occasional burn out. Have you forgot that you were a kid once?

**ScratchMonkey** · 10-07-2008, 01:05 AM

I suggested applying the limits all the time, and I think Bloedig is responding to that suggestion.

Fenian, parents are nazis. Been that way forever. Nothing new there. If kids don't like it, move out and fund your own transportation. That's why I moved out as soon as I could. I even made a point of going to college on the other end of the continent. (Funded through an inheritance.)

RudeBoy, I've been an old fart since I was 10. But I do like to crank up the classical music, because it has a lot of dynamic range, and I want to hear the very very soft parts. The even older farts think music is just melody, and don't appreciate using dynamic range as a musical component. (Now you have some jargon to throw at the fogies to explain why your volume is cranked up.

) It seems like only musicians with a classical background (including some rock performers) really play with this.

**Razcsak** · 10-07-2008, 02:21 AM

So how does it sense that its a kid? I know several people who easily fall under the height and weight profiles for young children.

edit: never mind

**Switch** · 10-07-2008, 02:44 AM

Its a great way to get killed when you punch the gas and expect to accelerate and fail to clear an intersection or merge into traffic sufficiently.

me no likes.

**sordavie** · 10-07-2008, 03:13 AM

I think they would just get used to it. If you don't expect to accelerate, then you wouldn't punch the gas expecting to accelerate. My old '87 Camary wagon didn't really accelerate on demand when I punched the gas. I wouldn't even have tried to clear an intersection if I didn't think I couldn't make it at the speed I was already at. I don't think that car could even make it to 80mph. (Well, maybe if I had a long straightaway downhill...) To be sure, it had 380,000 miles on it when I got rid of it.

**War.mongeR1** · 10-07-2008, 10:56 AM

Originally Posted by FUNKED1

FYI There are 80 mph speed limits in some areas of the US.

Very true. Even in Texas, there's a 490 miles stretch from Kerrville (right west of San Antonio) to El Paso. 80 mph, baby! That's pretty good justification for the 80 mph limit on the car. Sounds fair to me. Since Ford is offering Sync on more and more vehicles, that should help with the cell phone issue. I'd totally get one of these keys if I had teenage kids, OR even better yet, I'd buy them Sordavie's old Camry wagon. MUCH cheaper and even slower. If they don't like the wheels, they can buy their own car like I did when I was a teen.

**=DdogG=** · 10-07-2008, 06:53 PM

the thing about jamming cell phones is, if the engine is off... the jamming is too.

the breathalyzer breaking issue: the engine could break too... it is what it is. cars break. a breathalyzer is not more prone than a fuel pump.

and being able to dictate the limiter thought sync would benefit those in areas where the speed limit is 60 everywhere. or in Montana it could be 100 (safe and prudent is the speed limit in places there IIRC)

**Buh East** · 10-07-2008, 09:13 PM

I could see my parents getting me one of these

**El_Gringo_Grande** · 10-07-2008, 10:39 PM

Originally Posted by RudeBoy

Nope. All you old guys have lost your touch. Whats being a teenager without loud music in your car, and the occasional burn out. Have you forgot that you were a kid once?

Nope. Remember it well. Remember how absolutly stupid I and my friends where. Remember how many times we came close to killing ourselves. Remember a few friends that died because of that stupidity. Remember their parents never, ever getting over it, even 24 years later.

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