Ford Motor Co. announced today that it would introduce a new technological feature for its vehicles called MyKey, which is designed to help parents encourage their teenagers to drive safer and use fuel more efficiently.

The feature will even mute the radio until the teenager buckles up.

MyKey, which debuts next year as standard equipment on the 2010 Focus coupe and will quickly become standard on many other Ford, Lincoln and Mercury models, allows owners to program the key to:

• Limit the vehicle’s top speed

• Limit the top audio volume

• Encourage safety-belt use

• Provide earlier warnings for low fuel, and

• Sound chimes as the car hits certain speeds, such as 55 m.p.h. and 65 m.p.h.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, teens are more likely to take risks such as speeding – a contributing factor in 30% of all fatal crashes. Teens also are less likely to wear safety belts than older drivers.

MyKey is just one way that Ford is helping teens drive more safely.

The Ford Fund also sponsors Driving Skills for Life, a program that helps young motorists master four critical driving skills – hazard recognition, vehicle handling, space management and speed management – that help address the majority of dangerous driving conditions.

More than 3,000 teens have participated in DSFL ride-and-drive events. And more than 500,000 people have used the training course since 2003 on www.drivingskillsforlife.com.