While I don't yet have a teen driver in my home, I'm only a short year away from sympathizing with those of you who do. I can only imagine the slight discomfort (OK, who are we kidding, night-sweat-inducing panic) that comes along with sending your teen, with his or her yet to be fully developed prefrontal cortex, out into the world with the family-car keys.
Related: More Family News
Lexus is the latest in a string of automakers helping to reduce parents' anxiety. Through its Enform Remote App, parents can preset limits like speed and drive times, as well as geo-fence driving boundaries. When the vehicle exceeds any of these chosen limitations, a notification will be sent to a parent's cellphone. The app combines safety and peace of mind, two valuable things to the parents of a teen driver.
According to Lexus, "With a swift call to the Bluetooth-enabled vehicle, you can then set your speeding teenager straight (while still keeping their hands on the wheel)." While we wouldn't advocate calling your teenager while they're driving, you can certainly choose to use this as a tool for conversation when your teen arrives safely at their destination.
This app will work well not only for teen monitoring but also for checking on older drivers in the family, or even nannies and other caregivers. It will also remotely lock and unlock doors, start the engine and climate controls, and can help find your vehicle's location in a parking lot.
The app works with several model-year 2015 Lexus vehicles, including the IS, GS, LS, RC, RC F and navigation-equipped ES and NX. It costs $219.95 a year, though the first year's subscription is free and the cost also covers the SafetyConnect safety assistance system, which is an emergency service that sends assistance in a crash to your car's location.
While the merits of this type of app could certainly be debated, any device that helps my future driving teen and I stay connected and communicating openly about safe driving habits is one I'll be looking into in short order.
Cars.com photo by Kelsey Mays
from KickingTires http://ift.tt/1hiG57n
Put the internet to work for you.
No comments:
Post a Comment