Ford's Do Not Disturb Feature Helps Parents Prevent Distracted Driving
Ford has just released the Do Not Disturb feature, a new technology that lets parents limit distracted driving habits teens are tempted with.
The new Ford MyKey Do Not Disturb feature allows parents to block their teens from receiving phone calls and text messages while driving. This means that young drivers can keep their eyes on the road instead of on their cell phones. The Do Not Disturb feature saves incoming calls and texts, so teens can check them after they stop the car.
This new Do Not Disturb feature adds another safety element to Ford’s programmable MyKey, which limit a vehicle’s top speed to 80mph and reduces the audio volume. Not only that, but this feature reminds drivers to use a seatbelt, provides earlier low-fuel warnings and can be set to sound chimes between 45 and 70mph.
“MyKey adds a new dimension to auto safety by giving drivers standard technology that encourages safer driving and limits their exposure to risk, regardless of age or experience,” said Peter Patzelt, Ford system architect for MyKey. “MyKey can give parents peace of mind when they hand car keys over to their kids, and ‘Do Not Disturb’ enables parents to control another risk factor when their child gets behind the wheel.”
The MyKey function will be available next year on the Ford Fiesta, and will later be available on other Ford car models.
More by Amy Tokic
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I think what Ford is doing here is great! Technology is the problem and technology can solve the problem. I have found another solution that works well called Cellcontrol. With Cellcontrol (www.cellcontrol.com) parents have the ability to set rules on what a phone can and cannot do when a car is moving. Texting and driving is eliminated. Cellcontrol is the worlds most advanced technology to solve this problem utilizing a signal directly from your vehicle to determine movement ensures you are only blocked in YOUR vehicle(s) not while a passenger in another vehicle like GPS based solutions.