Ford’s MyKey Technology Aimed at Teenage Drivers

[russellw]

MyKey technology debuts in Australia in September 2013

Ford's MyKey technology enables owners and parents to place certain restrictions on young drivers to promote safer driving; limits the top speed, reduces maximum audio volume, and overrides deactivation of driver assistance and safety technology

Speed alert and additional reminders for drivers ,V seatbelt reminders do not time out

SYDNEY, 13 Aug, 2013 ,V Ford's global MyKey technology will be launched in the new Ford Fiesta ST hatch when it goes on sale in September 2013.

The MyKey system forms a part of the new Ford Fiesta's safety and driver assistance features, which also includes Ford's Intelligent Protection System with seven airbags.
MyKey is an industry-first technology that allows parents to program a key that limits top speed, reduces maximum radio volume, disables the radio until the seatbelts are fastened and prevents deactivation of driver assistance and safety technologies.

It works by recognising different keys for the same car and adjusting the vehicle settings according to the owner's requirements.

Owners are able to set the system so:

* The audio system is disabled completely if seatbelts are not used
* Chimes sound at set points between 70 km/h and 140 km/h to highlight when the vehicle is travelling at higher speeds
* Seatbelt reminders do not time out
* In addition to the typical low-fuel warnings, an earlier low-fuel warning is delivered at 120 km ; that aims to reduce the likelihood the driver will run out of fuel
* Safety technologies such as Dynamic Stability Control cannot be deactivated

"This is a significant safety feature for young drivers, who are over-represented in crash-related statistics in Australia,," Ford Executive Vice President of Global Marketing, Sales and Service and Lincoln, Jim Farley, said. "MyKey provides some direct parental control over their car. It allows owners to set sensible restrictions for young drivers and delivers piece-of-mind for parents.,"

Figures in Australia show that young drivers are over-represented in road accident fatality and injury statistics. One of the leading causes of death among young Australians aged between 15 and 24 years is injury, and transport accidents account for more injury-related deaths than any other cause.