http://www.performanceautoblog.com/ford-mykey-teens-keys-safe-drivingFord MyKey Gives Teens the Keys to Safe DrivingPerformance Automotive Blog

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Most parents worry about their teens driving too fast, not wearing their seatbelt or being distracted by loud music while they’re behind the wheel. Ford recognizes these worries and is giving parents a new way to insure their teens are driving safely with Ford MyKey.

Using a transponder chip in the key, Ford MyKey gives parents the ability to program their teen’s key to enable default driving modes in the vehicle their teen drives most often. Soon to be standard on the Ford Taurus and Ford Explorer, the vehicle system reads the transponder chip in the key and immediately identifies the MyKey code, which enables the set driving modes.

“Ford not only offers industry-leading crash protection and crash avoidance systems, we also are committed to developing new technologies such as MyKey that encourage safer driving behavior,” said Susan Cischke, Ford Group vice president of Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering.

Ford MyKey automatically sets safety precautions including:

• Persistent Ford Beltminder: A six second chime sounds continuously and the audio system is muted until the safety belt is buckled.
• Features such as Park Aid and Blind Spot Information System with Cross Traffic Alert cannot be deactivated
• A low fuel alert sounds earlier when 75 miles remain until the gas tank is empty

Parents can set additional safety restrictions through the vehicle message center, such as:

• Parents can preset a top speed limit between 65 and 80 miles per hour.
• Audio volume can be limited to as low as 40 percent of the maximum volume.
• Traction control cannot be deactivated.
• A chime can sound when the driver goes over 45, 55 and 65 miles per hour.
• Parents can block “explicit” radio channels on the Sirius/XM satellite service.

Together with a driving safety program like Ford Motor Company Fund’s Driving Skills for Life program, Ford MyKey can help young drivers master critical driving skills.