New Ford MyKey Feature Lets Parent Block Explicit Satellite Radio Content

We bet that you wish you could be in the car whenever your teenager takes it out for a spin. Sure, you trust them, but you would feel better if you could make sure they weren’t going too fast or you could turn the radio dial when Howard Stern comes on. Thanks to Ford’s enhanced MyKey system, you’ll feel a lot better the next time your teen asks for the keys.

The latest version of Ford’s MyKey technology actually lets parents block explicit satellite radio content in the vehicle – think of it as a cable or Internet blocker that ensures your kids can’t watch any adult movies while you’re away at work. It will come standard on next year’s Ford Taurus and Ford Explorer, and in the future will be available in a variety of Ford and Lincoln vehicles. Don’t think of it as a nagging device – the MyKey system was designed to help parents encourage safe teen driving habits.

And not only will the MyKey feature limit radio access, it also limits driving speeds too. This easily programmable key lets you limit a vehicle’s top speed at four different settings – 65, 70, 75 or 80 mph. It will also limit radio volume and ensure that your teen puts on a safety-belt usage by muting the radio until they buckle up. The current version of the MyKey feature that launched in 2009 only allows drivers to limit the vehicle’s top speed to 80 mph, with chimes sounding at 45, 55 and 65 mph.

Would a feature like this make you more likely to purchase a Ford? And for all you teen drivers out there, how do you feel about having your parents put a limit on your radio usage and speed limits? Let us know in the comment section below.