Technology Aims To Keep Teens Safe Behind Wheel
You can't always be sitting next to your teen driver when they are on the road. But new technology lets parents have a say, even when you are far from the front seat.[ NEWS RELEASE ]
>> REPORTER: The next time you put the key in the ignition.. big brother might be watching.
>> BOB KEENEY: Safety is number one.. gas mileage but safety is the number one issue.
>> REPORTER: New technology being introduced by the Ford Motor Company acts like a virtual parent for teen drivers. MyKey, which is now standard on most 2010 models, lets parents program their teenager's car key. Setting limits on speed, your teen won't be able to go faster than 80 miles per hour. It also limits the volume on the car radio to 44% of the maximum volume.
>> VIOLET MARLEY: With the parent's key, turn on the radio, this is how loud. It's pretty loud.
>> REPORTER: But when you use the teen driver's key...
>> MARLEY: That's as loud as it will go and no matter how high they turn it up it won't go any louder.
>> REPORTER: A traction control system limits spinning tires.
>> MARLEY: Sets it so that the teen driver cannot do donuts out on the lawn.
>> REPORTER: When the technology was first introduced last year, Ford surveyed a sampling of teens. 67% said they wouldn't want the features. But when the teens heard they would have more driving privileges if they used the technology, only 36% objected. According to PennDOT, 935 crashes in Berks County last year were attributed to teen drivers. More than 400 of those crashes were due to driving too fast, inexperience, and careless turning.
>> KEENEY: Number one item that these kids have to do is put seat belts on for safety.
>> REPORTER: If your teen doesn't buckle up in either the driver or passenger seat, there's a chime and the radio mutes. The music stays off until the seat belt clicks in. Besides teens and parents, Ford says its selling the feature to companies buying fleets of cars.
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