In an effort to promote safe teen driving, a major auto company is giving parents more control, even when they're not in the car.

It's called MyKey and it's a new technology featured on several Fords. Here's how it works, parents use an administrative key to program settings through the vehicles message center.  When the teen puts the MyKey in the ignition, the parents' settings automatically kick in.

"It scares me to death. I can't imagine him driving," Kim Allen said.

Kim's son will soon be getting his license, so the idea of being able to put restrictions on his car is very appealing.

"I know when I'm with him how he drives but I don't know what he'll be like when he's alone," she said.

Now, Kim can control how fast he drives through speed alerts, how loud he can turn up the music and ensure that he is wearing his seatbelt.

Which is one of Edward Marks biggest concerns when it comes to his children driving.

"Make sure they're buckled up. They want to talk on cell phones and may forget to buckled up so that's my main concern," Marks said.

As part of Ford's Beltminder system, a reminder chime does go off every minute. But the MyKey feature takes it a step further.

As a reminder for teens to buckle up, until the safety belt is securely fastened, the MyKey system will automatically mute the audio system.

Parents can also limit audio level to 44 percent of the maximum volume and limit the top speed to 80 miles per hour.

"It gives the parents a little bit more sense of peace knowing they can limit how fast the vehicle can go," said sales consultant Kevin Jones.

"They feature of being able to control is a good option to have," Allen said.

MyKey is a standard feature on all models of the 2010 Ford Focus, Expedition and Navigator. Ford employees say eventually the new technology will be standard on 85 percent of Ford vehicles.

In an effort to help prevent teens from getting stranded, parents can set the low-fuel light to come on at 75 miles to empty. Not only that, but when their child returns, parents will know exactly how far they traveled because my key records the distance of each trip.