Carmaker Ford developed an innovative technology that adds parental controls to cars, meant to encourage not only safe driving, but also an efficient fuel usage, and let’s not forget about the safety-belt usage. The “MyKey” system offers parents an option to limit speed and audio volume to cars, but at the same time, it is not trying to discourage teenagers from driving.

According to Harris Interactive Survey conducted for Ford, parents would be more willing to allow their teen children to drive a car equipped with the MyKey system. The survey showed that 75 percent of the parents liked the speed-limit feature, 72 percent liked the safety-belt reminder, and 63 liked the audio limit feature.

As a result of that, MyKey will debut as a standard feature on the 2010 Ford Focus coupe, and will also become standard on other Ford, Lincoln and Mercury Models later on. While encouraging safe driving through belt-usage reminder and speed limitations at 45, 55 and 65 miles per hour, MyKey also provides the driver with low-fuel and fuel-efficient driving warnings.

Susan Cischke, Ford Group Vice President of Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering, explained that Ford, in addition to offering industry-leading crash protection and crash avoidance systems, also encourages safer driving behavior, which should be particularity useful among teens.

But while at least half of the parents admitted they would consider allowing their children to use the car more often if it were equipped with the MyKey technology, some teenagers aren’t just as happy about the system. Harris Interactive Survey revealed that initially, 67 percent of teens said they wouldn’t want the MyKey feature on their car. However, half of these teens also said that if MyKey also meant more driving privileges, they would use it, leaving only 36 percent to object the technology.

On the other hand, if we look at statistics provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), teens are more likely to speed drive, or get distracted when driving. Furthermore, at least half the parents are worried about their children’s reckless speed-driving, and more than one third of them are concerned about their children not using a safety belt.

Jim Buczkowski, director of Electrical and Electronic Systems Engineering, explained that MyKey is in fact based on an already existing technology, the SecurityLock passive anti-theft system, but has had additional software upgrades to comply with parent’s wishes. Furthermore, the system allows the carmaker to easily implement it across multiple vehicle lines.

The MyKey system includes a Persistent Belt Reminder with audio mute, which unlike the typical six-second reminder chime ever minute for five minutes that Ford’s normal Beltreminder offers, continues to chime at the regular interval, while muting the audio system, until the safety belt is buckled.

Furthermore, MyKey also provides the driver with low-fuel warning at 75 miles to empty, instead of 50 miles. If the MyKey system is in the ignition, it will also support features such as Park Aid and BLISTM (Blind Spot Information System) with Cross Traffic Alert, which cannot be deactivated.

In addition to that, MyKey can also be programmed to limit top speed to 80 mph, it has a traction control system that limits tire spin and cannot be deactivated, it can be programmed to limit audio volume to 44 percent of total volume and provides a speed alert chime at 45, 55 and 65 mph.

Speed limitations, in addition to keeping the driver safe, also provide a financial benefit: improved fuel economy. Ford explained that driving at 55 mph instead of 65 mph means 15 percent less fuel consumption, adding that “mastering eco-driving habits such as avoiding jackrabbit starts and excessive idling can help improve fuel economy by more than 50 percent.”