Starting in 2010, Ford plans to offer an innovative feature named “MyKey”. Aimed at parents who pass the keys on to their teenage driver, MyKey allows the vehicle owner to limit vehicle speed, audio system volume, encourage seat belt usage, and sound chimes at preset speeds while running under a special key.
Ford states a Harris Interactive Survey that shows a good chunk of parents would allow their teens more access to the family vehicle if it was equipped with a system like MyKey. Obviously seeing an opportunity, Ford has announced it will offer MyKey standard on the 2010 Ford Focus. Other Ford models as well as the Lincoln and Mercury brands will come standard with the technology shortly thereafter. The system uses a transponder chip embedded in unique keys to impose the limitations when the vehicle is started.
The same survey states that 64% of teens would be open to using the feature if it meant they would be allowed to drive more. If using the system did not mean more time behind the wheel that statistic flips, with 67% saying they would not want to drive a car with MyKey. Only 50% of parents in the survey indicated that they would allow their child to use the family vehicle more often if it was equipped with MyKey.
The MyKey system allows parents to:
- Limit top speed to 80mph
- Prevents deactivation of traction control, parking aids, and blind spot systems
- Limits audio sound level to 44% of the maximum setting
- Set a speed alert chime at 45, 55, or 65 mph
- Mutes the audio system if the seat belts are not buckled
- Warns of a low fuel sooner.- 75 miles to emply instead of 50 miles
Ford MyKey Product Card
MyKey Driver Information Center Messages
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Published October 7, 2008 by Zane Merva
Filed Under: News, Safety, Tech