Ford has introduced new technology it hopes will make parents of teen drivers feel safer while their children are on the road.

The new MyKey system allows parents to give teenagers a specific set of keys, which contains a microchip parents can program with certain restrictions. Ford spokeswoman Megan Whatman demonstrated the technology Friday at Jim Robinson Ford-Lincoln-Mercury-Toyota-Scion at The Highlands, in conjunction with National Teen Safe Driving Week.

Whatman said the MyKey system is easy to use, programmable through the vehicle's message center on the dashboard. She said the system focuses on four main areas - speed, sound system volume, stability control and seat belt usage.

Parents can opt to set a maximum speed for the car when a MyKey is in the ignition. If active, the car will not travel at speeds exceeding 80 mph. Another option causes the car to chime when a car reaches speeds of 45, 55 and 65 mph. Also, parents can limit how high their child can set the sound system's volume-44 percent of the speakers' full volume.

"It's still pretty loud," Whatman said of the sound at 44 percent. "But the louder the radio is, the more distracted a driver can become."

MyKey also can prevent the driver from turning off the vehicle's traction control to perform activities such as doing "doughnuts" in a snowy parking lot. Whatman said she feels the technology's best feature, however, is the "Beltminder" system.

"When MyKey is active," said Whatman, "(it) will chime and mute the radio until all seat belts are buckled."

Cars equipped with MyKey also keeps track of the number of miles driven while a programmed key is in the ignition, and a fuel reminder will sound when the vehicle has 75 miles' worth of gas remaining, rather than the standard 50 miles.

Whatman said these are "minor restrictions" that give parents peace of mind and encourage safe driving habits while still allowing teens to make their own choices. For example, she said most parents would feel safer knowing their child couldn't drive 100 mph or more - but they can still easily be pulled over if driving at the maximum speed of 80 mph.

According to Whatman, MyKey is available at no extra cost on about half the Ford-Lincoln-Mercury line's 2010 models, including the Ford Focus, Taurus, Flex, F-150, Expedition, Escape and Escape hybrid; the Mercury Mariner; and the Lincoln MK-5, MK-T and Navigator. Within the next year, she said, it should be available in virtually all of their models.

Joe Elias, general manager of the Jim Robinson dealership, said he loves the new technology.

"What a great feature," he said. "Ford's technology is like no other right now. With the MyKey, if I had children today of driving age, I wouldn't think of putting them in (a car without it)."