Control teen-age drivers

Opinion: June 15, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

Dallas Morning News: Parenting is a long process of letting go. It starts with that first day of school, and it’s never more apparent than at graduation, as many moms and dads can attest this time of year.

But in between is an American rite of passage so exhilarating for teens and terrifying for parents that there is no greater challenge to the child-parent peace process. We speak of turning 16 and having access to an automobile.

Parents can set all the rules they want, but teens know that once the keys are in their hands and home is in the rearview mirror, they are free. Parents have to trust that teens will go where they say they are going and behave the way they promise to behave.

But Ford Motor Co. is giving Mom and Dad just a little more control. In a 50-city safety tour this summer, Ford is touting innovations to make driving safer, and none offer more peace of mind than the MyKey software available in about half of all Ford vehicles.

Two keys

When you sign on the dotted line, you’re given two keys to that new Mustang. With one, the adult key, you can program the software to do several things aimed at reducing driver distractions for the user of the other key.

It’s up to the parents to choose the limitations they want. There’s even a way to keep Junior from peeling out, believe it or not.