Ford Offers Satellite Radio Censorship Option in MyKey Upgrade
Ford is giving the parents of teen drivers one fewer thing to worry about. A major upgrade to its MyKey system — parents can limit a car’s top speed, stereo volume and more — will allow parents to block explicit satellite radio content, Ford announced today.
This development probably won’t make your teenager happy, but what’s new? This new feature works like a TV’s V-chip and blocks 16 stations on Sirius Satellite Radio that are labeled explicit. Some of the stations include Playboy, Hip-Hop Nation and Howard Stern.
The upgraded MyKey will also allow parents to limit a car’s top speed to 65, 70, 75 or 80 mph. The previous version limited the top speed to 80 mph.
This new version will be standard on the Ford Taurus and Explorer by late 2011 and later on some Ford and Lincoln models.
MyKey also features:
- Seat belt reminder: A chime sounds at regular intervals and the stereo system is muted until the driver buckles up.
- Early low-fuel warning: The driver is alerted when the fuel tank has 75 miles until empty, unlike the usual warning that occurs at 50 miles to empty.
- Always-on safety systems: Active Park Assist, which helps the driver select a parallel parking spot, the blind spot warning system and traction control cannot be turned off.
- Speed alert: A chime sounds at 45, 55 or 65 mph.
- Quieter stereo system: The stereo system’s volume can be limited to 44 percent of maximum volume.
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I think the variable speed limiting is a good idea. 80 seemed too high anyway; 70-75 is more reasonable. I could even see the lowest 65 setting in a large urban area. When I was a teen driver, the only way my car would do 80 is if I stood on it all day and went downhill.
This is an awesome idea on Fords part, but I'm sure glad my parents never had these options on their vehicles when I started driving.