It’s the big day when you deliver your baby for the very first time into the hands of others.
You drive slowly on that first day in September because you want to savor the moment. This is a real milestone, a once-in-a-lifetime experience that you share with other proud men and women around the world.
You want to take plenty of pictures, but at the same time you don’t want to create a scene that results in embarrassment and potential resentment for everyone concerned.
You park in the drop-off zone and walk reluctantly toward the door where once one crosses the threshold, a new era in life begins. The time for goodbyes is over. It’s time to man up, reach in your pocket, and hand the keys to the valet parking attendant.
Dropping your firstborn off at school is a walk in the park compared to delivering your new car into the hands of a valet parking attendant who may be practicing high-speed turns with your BMW the minute you get out of sight and hearing.
Teachers are supposed to have your child’s best interest at heart and if not, you know where to find the teacher in the future. A faceless valet, on the other hand, is a complete stranger and who knows where he will be once the meal is over?
Fortunately, Government Motors — excuse me, General Motors — feels your pain. The Los Angeles Times reports the new 2015 Chevrolet Corvette will have a “Valet Mode” that records “data such as speed, engine RPM, which gears have been used and the highest level of G-force incurred on that joy ride to the parking garage.”
Harlan Charles, Corvette product manager, describes it as “a baby monitor for your car. Anyone who has felt apprehension about handing over their keys will appreciate the peace of mind of knowing exactly what happened while their baby was out of sight.”
What’s more, owners won’t have to wait until they get home to view the evidence. You and the restaurant owner can sit in the front seat of your 'vette and watch Valet Parker’s Wild Ride on the 8-inch touch-screen video monitor. The system records from the driver’s point of view through the windshield and any whoops and hollers emitted by the attendant are caught on the audio track.
Valet Mode is part of a Corvette option package that will set you back $1,795, but you have to ask yourself: What price does one put on peace of mind?
Michael Reagan is the son of President Ronald Reagan. He is president of The Reagan Legacy Foundation and chairman of the League of American Voters. Mike is an in-demand speaker with Premiere. Read more reports from Michael Reagan — Go Here Now.