We definitely understand how stressful it can be
on parents to hand over the keys to a brand-new driver, and for 2020 Chevy is
enhancing features on “Teen Driver”. First introduced for the 2016 Chevy
Malibu, this system is a very up-close look at your teen's behavior behind the
wheel, and a way to track nearly every move. The fascinating Government
Technology blog provided a glance at just how powerful this feature is
over the past week, first looking at how the keys can be programmed.
Teen driver reports on the distance traveled,
maximum speed during the journey, over-speed warnings given, and any time the
throttle is wide open. It also provides detailed reports on when safety systems
such as stability control and antilock braking are enabled. You can also opt
for a visible and audible warning when the vehicle reaches a certain speed, and
the radio can be muted until the driver and front passenger seat belts are
fastened. One of this year's new enhancements is a feature called “Buckle to
Drive” that will keep teen drivers from shifting out of park until their seat
belts are fastened.
If the vehicle is on and the driver's seat belt is
not buckled, there is an audible alert as well as message in the driver
information center spelling out placidly “Buckle seat belt to shift”. Teen
Driver with the Buckle To Drive feature will now be standard on the 2020 Colorado,
Malibu,
and Traverse.
Jim Rossman of the Dallas Morning News spent a few days driving the 2020 Chevy
Traverse, a seven-passenger SUV with the key that enabled Teen Driver. He drove
from Dallas to Houston, and first tested the speed limiter by driving up to 85
mph. He did so on an open patch of interstate, and then heard the chime and saw
a message on the speedometer that he had reached the top allotted limit.
The volume on the audio system had been set to
about 50%, and it was more than loud enough for him to quickly realize exactly
what was taking place. He said that none of Teen Driver's features felt
restrictive to him in the least, and felt that persuading teens into
consistently wearing a seat belt is one of the most important lessons they can
be taught. During decades like the 1980s, if teens were forbidden to go certain
places or past a certain distance, they could get away with it: it is pretty
amazing to think that by means of modern technology, you can keep the ultimate
watch over the younger drivers in your entourage.
Everyone on staff here at Jim Butler Chevy loves the
excitement and thrill that is in the air when teens first get their license,
and also stands behind these modern methods of making sure they adhere to
guidelines that will keep them well-protected during every drive!