Parental Controls To Stop Teens Driving Badly

Parents will be able to control their children's driving with a new hi-tech system launched by Britain's biggest-selling car company.

According to Ford , the MyKey device allows parents to programme a top speed, limit the volume of the stereo and even mute the audio until occupants buckle up.

The system is already available in the US and will be introduced in Europe next year.

Designer Peter Patzelt said MyKey would limit drivers' exposure to risk.

"It can give parents peace of mind when they hand the keys over to their kids," he said.

Andrea Smith believes her son Kyle would still be alive if he had been wearing a seatbelt.

He was thrown through a window when the driver of the car he was in lost control.

She welcomes any attempt to improve safety: "It's a scary thing. Once you give someone a licence you are giving them a licence to kill."

But the MyKey system only allows parents to limit the top speed to 80 miles per hour. Below that their children will just get a warning chime.

Motoring expert at the technology website CNET Rory Reid says that's pointless.

"You can still break the law even though this system is limiting you to a certain speed," he said.

"It also doesn't take into consideration your acceleration.

"You can still engage in a drag race with your friends at the lights and get up to speeds of 80mph in a 30mph zone if you are stupid enough."