Parents can’t always ride shotgun with their teenage drivers. But with Ford’s upcoming MyKey system, they can ride virtual shotgun.

With MyKey, parents can program the car’s control computers to set limits on drivers and maintain safety systems.

Among the items controlled by the key:

-- Max speed is limited to 80 miles per hour, and warning chimes can sound at 45, 55 and 65 miles per hour.

-- The seatbelt warning chime sounds and the radio is muted until the belt is buckled.

-- The low-fuel warning comes on with 75 miles remaining, instead of the usual 50 miles.



-- Radio volume is limited to 44 percent of maximum.

-- Safety technologies such as traction control and blind-spot detection cannot be deactivated.

Ford says the MyKey program will be standard on the 2010 Focus that goes on sale next year, and will be optional on many other of the automaker’s products.

No word, yet, on whether Ford may add back seat moisture sensors to the system -- you know, for parents’ peace of mind.