Last month, we told you about some of the steps Ford has taken to ensure the safety of their drivers in a world that is largely ruled by our cell phones. Well, they've taken it a step further: their latest technology will allow parents to create settings that will keep their teens focused on the road and not on their mobile devices.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHSTA) says that teens represent the largest demographic of drivers likely to take risks like not wearing their seatbelt or driving over the speed limit. Of course, if you're a parent, you know this all too well. Ford does too, which is why they've recently updated their MyKey technology with their all-new "Do Not Disturb" feature. When MyKey technology is in place, and the teen is behind the wheel, all incoming calls will go straight to voicemail, and incoming texts will be saved for reading at a later time. Plus, it allows your teen to leave their phone on in case of an emergency.

This comes after many American automakers have received requests from parents to help keep their kids safer behind the wheel. Andy Sarkisian, Ford Safety Planning and Strategy Manager, underlines Ford's effort to "continually listen to their customers and respond to parents' desire to make sure their kids are paying attention to the road."¹. As part of this initiative, Ford went beyond ensuring cell phone safety. The "No Belt No Tunes" feature of "Do Not Disturb" mutes the radio until both front seat passengers are belted. And, now parents can set a top driving speed (65, 70, 75, or 80 mph), block adult-themed satellite radio programs, set a top stereo volume, and set an early low-fuel warning when there's 75 miles left in the tank.

If you've got a teen behind the wheel, you're probably wondering how fast you can get this technology in your car. If you drive a SYNC-equipped new Ford model, give us a call at Theodore Robins Ford, (888) 849-1316, or simply contact us via our website to learn more about these new features. Or, stop in and see us at 2060 Harbor Blvd Costa Mesa, CA 92627, we'll be happy to show you all of the great features of Ford's MyTouch technology.

Source: ¹http://media.ford.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=35504