In an effort to improve safety, vehicle manufacturers have been developing innovate vehicle safety technology over the past several years. Backup cameras, lane departure warning systems, and blind spot detection are just some examples of the great features that help keep drivers safe.
One of the most at-risk demographics for car accidents is teen drivers. According to Statistics Canada, in 2013 drivers aged 15 to 19 had the second highest rate of vehicle accidents causing death. Teenagers have been known to push the boundaries when it comes to speed, braking, and loud music. As a result, General Motors (GM) has developed a new technology with hopes to combat this problem and make roads safer for everyone.
Read on to learn more about GM’s Teen Driver technology.
How the Teen Driver Technology Works Explained for Students in Car Mechanics Training
For most parents, letting their teenager get behind the wheel can be a scary moment. GM’s new technology helps soothe parents’ worries by keeping teen drivers in line even if parents aren’t in the car. The technology is built right into the car and is automatically activated when the teenager’s key is used to unlock the vehicle.
Parents have a private security pin they can use to access the car’s settings. Within the settings, parents can place boundaries on their teen’s driving and access a report card that provides a snapshot of their driving habits and style. One feature the Teen Driver doesn’t have, though, is GPS tracking, meaning that parents can’t see where their child has driven. They can only know how they’ve driven.
Features of the Teen Driver Technology for Students in Car Mechanics Training
GM’s Teen Driver technology has several distinct features that keep teenage drivers safe. First off, the technology applies boundaries on certain vehicle capabilities. For example, it can mute the radio until passengers have buckled up their seatbelts. Teen Driver will also alert the driver with audible warnings. If the teenager drives faster than the speed limit, surpasses the audio volume limit, or top speed set by the parent, the vehicle will warn them they are driving recklessly and the violation will be noted on the report card.
The second feature of Teen Driver is an automatic lock on all safety features. Features like lighting, traction control, and stability control cannot be turned off by the driver under any circumstance. The third feature is the report card. Parents can access the report card from the infotainment system in the vehicle. The report card displays data like speed violations, forward-collision alerts, and more. The report card feature keeps teen drivers accountable for their driving habits even when their parents aren’t there supervising them. Professionals with an automotive mechanic career who’ve witnessed the aftermath of teenage drivers’ accidents are sure to understand the positive impact this technology could make.
Vehicles Students in Car Mechanics Training May Come Across with the Technology
Graduates of car mechanics training may encounter vehicles from manufactures like Ford that also have technology aimed at making driving safer for teens. Ford’s MyKey system limits features that could make driving dangerous for teens, but lacks the report card function. GM’s Teen Driver technology is one of the most comprehensive options to date.
Luckily, the technology is available in almost all of GM’s 2017 Chevrolet vehicles like the Malibu, Bolt EV, Cruze, and more. The only two vehicles in GM’s Chevrolet lineup that don’t have the Teen Driver function are the Corvette and Equinox.
Although this technology will not eradicate teenage car accidents completely, it could go a long way in improving teens’ awareness of their driving habits and make the roads a safer place for everyone.
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