Introducing another breakthrough in its efforts the help keep teen drivers safe—and provide their parents with increased peace of mind—the Ford Motor Company recently announced significant upgrades to its exclusive MyKey technology. According to Clovis Ford, the original MyKey system was first launched in 2009 and allowed owners to limit vehicle speeds to 80 mph via an easy-to-program key system. The new technology, set to premiere on the 2011 Ford Taurus and Ford, will allow parents to:
- Block explicit satellite radio content—an industry first
- Choose between four different top vehicle speeds—65 mph, 70 mph, 75 mph or 80 mph
- Help encourage kids to stay buckled up by muting the audio system until the front seatbelts are engaged
- Limit the audio system’s volume levels to 44 percent of its maximum
- Prevent safety systems like traction control and blind-spot alert from being deactivated
- Set an earlier “low-fuel” warning that comes on when the vehicle’s range reach 75 miles
As you’d expect, parental interest in this kind of system is high: According to a poll conducted for Ford, almost 60 percent of parents with teen drivers indicated the content-blocking feature was an important technology, with that number rising to 85 percent for MyKey’s speed-limiting functionality. But the new technology can also have a ripple effect that can boost its acceptance among young drivers. The same survey showed that more than half of the parents would let their teen drivers use the family car more often if it were equipped with MyKey, and 45 percent of the teens surveyed said they would approve of the MyKey restrictions if they led to more time behind the wheel.
“Ford wants to give parents peace of mind that their kids are following practical household rules in the car,” said Graydon Reitz, director of Ford Electrical and Electronic Systems Engineering. “Like graduated licensing laws, MyKey helps parents set reasonable limits for teens as they’re building driving skills.”
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