Howard Stern, Playboy Radio, and Raw Dog Comedy are just a handful of satellite radio's hundreds of channels and, with satellite becoming a popular (if not standard) feature in vehicles, it's time to evaluate the value of the aforementioned raunchy channels. Should they be allowed on the air? Absolutely. Should they be allowed in a teenager's car? Absolutely not.
Welcome to one of the dilemmas of modern parenting. While the government would like to classify "children" as anyone under the age of 26, I'll stick to the standard age of 18. Do you remember when you got your first car? For me, I was 16 and thought I was invincible. My little red coupe had 4 cylinders and every safety feature available at the time, so my parents felt it was a responsible choice but I saw it as my ticket to freedom. I could go wherever I wanted, listen to whatever I wanted however loud I wanted, and cruise around with friends after school.
I was an idiot. And I'm sure you were too at that age.
Sharing the road with teenagers is risky as it is, so do we really want inexperience mixed with immaturity while listening to adult-content satellite radio behind the wheel? Most drivers and, more importantly, parents don't, which is why Ford has announced its new MyKey System.
Adult channels on satellite radio have a specific code for their content; Ford has developed an ignition key that senses this code and blocks it from playing through the speakers in the vehicle. Using this key, parents can also set limits on speed and stereo volume. When this key is used, the stereo volume is significantly reduced automatically until the seatbelt is buckled. If it's a family vehicle, the parents can still use standard ignition keys and have access to all of the raunchy stations, fast speeds, and excessive volume they want.
Ford listened to its customers when 60% of parents surveyed indicated they had concerns for their teenage drivers in these areas. It's reasons like this that the motor company will not only survive, but thrive in a free market. Creating quality solutions for real problems, as well as developing a reputation for reliability and responsibility, are reasons that Ford is going places.
If you haven't seen the newest Ford product lines, stop by a dealership and check it out - even if you're not in the market for a new car. My guess is the dealership will be so thrilled that you just want to see what they're up to, that they'll gladly take a few minutes to show you what they've been working on.
Original Source: USA Today, December 29, 2010
More information on Ford's MyKey System
Diagram of MyKey System courtesy of auto123.com
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