Chevrolet Adds Teen Driver Tech to 9 New Models
Parents can be in the car, even when they're not
Chevrolet rolled out its teen driver monitoring feature last year on the 2016 Malibu, and now nine additional models will receive the technology. These include the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt, Camaro, Colorado, Cruze, Silverado, Silverado HD, Suburban, Tahoe, and Volt. If you're a teen who doesn't want the parental Big Brother experience, you'd better hope your folks give you keys to a Cruze or Spark instead.
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The free feature warns teens when they're driving faster than speed rules set by their parents. It can also set limits for speed and radio volume, and will mute the audio system when occupants aren't wearing seat belts. Teens are also barred from disabling safety features on the car including lane departure warning, park assist, and side blind zone alert.
Not only does the system warn teens of potential road dangers, it analyzes the teen's driving performance and sends back a "report card" to parents. That means parents will know the exact distance their teens drove, the speed they reached, and depending on the car, if they tailgated anyone and if automatic braking had to be used during any given drive. Along with the nanny system, the 10 vehicles offer Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility to discourage teens from fiddling with their phones while driving.
Chevrolet isn't the only automaker to offer a teen driving feature. Ford rolled out its MyKey technology several years ago, allowing parents to set audio and speed rules. But Chevy says it's the first automaker to offer in-vehicle report cards for both parents and teens to see.
Source: Chevrolet
When I tell people I write about cars, the most common reply I receive is “Really?” I guess I never strike people as a car type as I drive down the freeway in the right lane going 60 mph in my old SUV. My gripes about driving in city traffic and fast drivers don’t help my case, either. For a time, the only cars I liked were old cars. Not old as in "classic" or "vintage," but as in well-worn. My first appreciation of cars came when I drove a very old Ford pickup. It wasn't perfect: I used a booster seat to reach the gas pedal, and the turn signal once fell off in my hand as I was learning to drive. But the thing I valued most was the memories. It took several years for me to truly become a "car person." Being a long-time writer and an avid reader has helped me develop a healthy curiosity and a desire to know how things work. This has made cars one of the most fascinating points of study for me because they are such intricate machines. I am interested in how cars can reach 200 mph, how they can run on hydrogen, and how they can drive and park on their own. I also enjoy learning how cars can solve problems whether it be in the form of reducing pollution, minimizing traffic, or helping people stay connected on the road. Yes, maybe I’m not a gearhead. Perhaps I’m a car nerd. Either way, I very much enjoy writing about cars and helping people stay in tune with the automotive industry. I wouldn't want to be writing about anything else. And don’t get me wrong: I know how to drool over a hot car. I am fascinated by the Tesla Model S, awed by the Lamborghini Veneno, and am hopelessly obsessed with the Audi R8.
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