Smart Key

Ford has announced several of their 2010 vehicle models will include technology which can “govern” the vehicle’s top speed by setting a limit of 80 miles per hour (mph). The technology comes in the form of a computer chip which resides in the key utilized for ignition. Along with capping the speed limit, warning tones when the seatbelt is not engaged, volume level caps for the radio system, and sound alerts when certain speeds are achieved are included. These safety features are squarely aimed at parents who are worried about their child’s safety. It’s a pretty safe bet that most parents are on board with such “restraints” in a vehicle. Ford even reports that 75% of the parents surveyed liked the speed and volume limits.

My question on that survey is what was the other 25% thinking? I can only hope that they wanted a more conservative speed chosen than 80 mph… Ford answers the 80 mph limitation with the following response, “Ford arrived at the 80 mph limit even though freeway speed limits are lower in most states because it wanted to leave a margin in case an unusual situation arises.” I agree on that point. So let’s just assume that the “objecting” parents to the technology only wanted to see a lower speed limit chosen because if they objected to the other safety features, I may begin to question their regard for their child’s safety at all.

Of course the parents like these features, but how did the youth take to the new technology “improvements?” Let’s just say they were as equally unexcited about it as the parents were excited. 67% of the youth don’t like the technology and feel that it shows a level of distrust their parents have in them. One 16 year old said, “I wouldn’t want my parents to have that much control over how I’m driving. If your parents are holding your hand, you’re never going to learn.” I tend to agree on certain aspects of learning while growing up. We all must face our own trial and errors to mature and find our boundaries. However, there are certain areas of life that need tempering to allow for our youth to actually survive until they can adequately determine the ramifications of their actions.

Driving a vehicle is one of those situations in my opinion. Too many of our youth are set upon our highways with the mindset that they are ultra prepared for anything. They believe they are smarter, faster, and possess quicker reflexes to deal with any impending accident or disaster. Nothing can change the fact that a teenager knows everything… That is until a terrible automobile accident occurs and they are reduced to a shattered, shaking, crying mess trying to explain how fast things happened, how they didn’t see the other person, how they have only had one drink, and the list can go on forever.

We have all been there and if you can’t admit the failings of your youth as an adult, then you haven’t truly grown up. At times, we are our own worst enemy. We truly believe we are in control and know everything when it comes down to it. It takes an event in our lives or maturity to explain to us different. These safety measures are going to save hundreds, if not thousands of future lives as the technology is placed in more vehicles. Wrap your mind around this, “More than 5,000 U.S. teens die each year in car crashes. The rate of crashes, fatal and nonfatal, per mile driven for 16-year-old drivers is almost 10 times the rate for drivers ages 30 to 59, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.”

These simple safety additions can have a great impact on those statistics. Sure, our youth will have a childish outburst and throw a fit, but that is easy to deal with when their lives are at stake. Another question I have is why now? Why not 5 years ago, or 10, or even 20? Computer chips have been in vehicles for decades now and the concept of governing speed limits and seat belt notifications have been around for even longer. Were we just simply ok with our youth having accidents and “learning” from their mistakes? Or, is it because insurance costs have skyrocketed in the last few years and as parents, we can barely afford our children to drive?

The car manufacturers may even have statistics showing the cost impacts of adding such features to vehicles would make them “unsellable.” We were never asking for tanks to be built to protect our children, but we were asking for simple safety mechanisms. How many lives are acceptable versus costs? I am excited that Ford has implemented this technology and I hope that more manufacturers will join them. I think it would also be a great idea if someone could “retrofit” the concepts into the older vehicles because we know, not every parent will be purchasing new vehicles for their children.

Citation: http://www.foxnews.com/