One thing that many have talked to us about here
at the Powerhouse with the
coming of summer is that they are concerned about multiple issues regarding
teen drivers. As the graduation ceremonies are taking place in numbers, many
are getting their licenses and gaining the ultimate in freedom! A Chevy vehicle
is one of the best things a new graduate could ask for, as our longstanding
reputation for safety and reliability are ingrained in every single vehicle.
Even with police out and about looking for those who aren't always following
the rules, Chevy now has another way to see to it that they will!
NPR offered up the
scoop this week about a new feature that will temporarily block the auto from
shifting into gear at all if the seat belt is not buckled. A message then
alerts the driver to buckle up in order to be able to proceed. After 20
seconds, the vehicle will operate normally, allowing the driver to proceed once
it's established they are buckled up. This feature is an industry first, and
will come as standard in the 2020 models of the Traverse,
Malibu,
and Colorado.
It will be part of the “Teen Driver” package,
which is also instrumental in setting speed alerts and maximum speed, and give
parents “report cards” that provide a detailed tracking of the teen's driving
behavior. To use Teen Driver mode, a parent can enable the feature by creating
a PIN in the Settings menu that allows them to register their teen's key fob.
The settings are turned on only when an actual registered key fob is used to
start the vehicle. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
less than 60% of high school students are claiming they wear their seat belt
during every single drive, and per mile driven, teens are the age group that
experiences the highest risk of being involved in a fatal crash.
Chevy safety engineer Tricia Morrow claimed in a
recent statement that she hopes the feature “will help guide more young drivers
to wear their seat belts, as well as encouraging positive conversations among
teens, their peers, and parents.” For some who purchased GM vehicles in the
past, there was a similar feature available, but this particular new teen
driver rollout is an industry first for consumer vehicles. If the car actually
is not moving, it is going to be a much more effective means of getting the
teen to wear their seat belt then a car that won't stop beeping.
With so many grave safety issues on the line,
manufacturers are taking many steps to prevent crashes from occurring. Even
though seat belts seem to be a pest and a thorn in the side, all of us here at
the Mid-Missouri Powerhouse know
how important it is for you to have your teen in check, and this is one great
new feature that will keep your mind completely at ease when the younger ones
in your tribe find their way daily behind the wheel!
