Ford is giving the parents of teen drivers one fewer thing to worry about. A major upgrade to its MyKey system — parents can limit a car’s top speed, stereo volume and more — will allow parents to block explicit satellite radio content, Ford announced today.

This development probably won’t make your teenager happy, but what’s new? This new feature works like a TV’s V-chip and blocks 16 stations on Sirius Satellite Radio that are labeled explicit. Some of the stations include Playboy, Hip-Hop Nation and Howard Stern.

The upgraded MyKey will also allow parents to limit a car’s top speed to 65, 70, 75 or 80 mph. The previous version limited the top speed to 80 mph.

This new version will be standard on the Ford Taurus and Explorer by late 2011 and later on some Ford and Lincoln models.

MyKey also features:

• Seat belt reminder: A chime sounds at regular intervals and the stereo system is muted until the driver buckles up.
• Early low-fuel warning: The driver is alerted when the fuel tank has 75 miles until empty, unlike the usual warning that occurs at 50 miles to empty.
• Always-on safety systems: Active Park Assist, which helps the driver select a parallel parking spot, the blind spot warning system and traction control cannot be turned off.
• Speed alert: A chime sounds at 45, 55 or 65 mph.
• Quieter stereo system: The stereo system’s volume can be limited to 44 percent of maximum volume.
(more…)

It seems like 2010 was an extra-busy year in the auto industry. After a catastrophic 2009 for the industry and the economy in general, 2010 was a year for learning and growing.  And with that, here are the top five things I learned in 2010.
1.  Families are passionate about their stick-figure decals.  After several years, our Banish Stick Figure Decals post is the most commented-on post in our history with 179 comments and counting.  The original author of this post called for banishing the stick-figure-family decals on the back of cars, calling them “Aww cute (wretch).”  Many of our readers agreed, and one even suggested a sticker stating, “Honk if you hate car stickers, too.” The opposing argument is that it’s a free world and we should rejoice in our ability to choose “tacky” stick-figure decals for our cars if we want to.  Wow, this is one argument that doesn’t show any signs of slowing in 2011.

2.  Every car deserves a backup camera. One of the biggest news stories for MotherProof.com in 2010 was the proposal from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to eliminate all blind zones from cars by 2014, essentially requiring that every new car have a backup camera. “This proposal from NHTSA is as big as getting seat belts and airbags in vehicles. Someday I hope to have grandchildren, and I’ll talk to them about in the old days when we couldn’t see behind cars. It’s that significant and revolutionary,” stated Janette Fennell, founder of KidsandCars.org.  If your car doesn’t have a backup camera, read this post now on how to avoid a potentially deadly backover, then Google “backup cameras” and find an affordable aftermarket version to order for your car today.

3. Texting and driving is clearly a no-no. We all know this already, but with high-profile celebrities such as Oprah jumping onto the anti-texting-and-driving campaign, it’s actually become cool and trendy to be safe.  And to show your friends and family just how hip you are, you can pick up my favorite app, Otter, which silences all incoming texts and automatically sends an anti-texting-while-driving message to anyone who texts you a text while you’re behind the wheel.  It’s like the 2010 version of driving a Prius.

4. Driving drowsy can be even more dangerous than driving tipsy.  I’ve suspected this very fact after many a late-night drive home from the airport, then realizing that I didn’t even remember the details of driving home. Scary!  Discovery Channel’s “MythBusters” confirmed this very fact in a recent episode. Their test showed that driving drowsy can be between three and 10 times more dangerous than driving tipsy. I’ll be enlisting my fiancé to pick me up upon returning from a long and tiresome business trip from here on out.

5. Self-expression is no longer relegated to our shoe collection. (Although an expressive shoe collection never hurts.) With automakers such as Ford and Smart offering a huge array of vinyl decals straight from the factory, and others such a Scion offering an absolute kaleidoscope of factory paint colors, I no longer scoff at my mom having bought her Ford Focus “because it’s yellow, and nobody else [she] knows drives a yellow car.” I’m trying diligently to keep the Lime Green and Magenta Ford Fiesta out of view of my mom. Even I have my limits.

Here’s to wishing you a safe, happy and colorful 2011.  Happy New Year’s from your friends at MotherProof.com!
(more…)

Ford is giving the parents of teen drivers one fewer thing to worry about. A major upgrade to its MyKey system — parents can limit a car’s top speed, stereo volume and more — will allow parents to block explicit satellite radio content, Ford announced today.

This development probably won’t make your teenager happy, but what’s new? This new feature works like a TV’s V-chip and blocks 16 stations on Sirius Satellite Radio that are labeled explicit. Some of the stations include Playboy, Hip-Hop Nation and Howard Stern.

The upgraded MyKey will also allow parents to limit a car’s top speed to 65, 70, 75 or 80 mph. The previous version limited the top speed to 80 mph.

This new version will be standard on the Ford Taurus and Explorer by late 2011 and later on some Ford and Lincoln models.

MyKey also features:

• Seat belt reminder: A chime sounds at regular intervals and the stereo system is muted until the driver buckles up.
• Early low-fuel warning: The driver is alerted when the fuel tank has 75 miles until empty, unlike the usual warning that occurs at 50 miles to empty.
• Always-on safety systems: Active Park Assist, which helps the driver select a parallel parking spot, the blind spot warning system and traction control cannot be turned off.
• Speed alert: A chime sounds at 45, 55 or 65 mph.
• Quieter stereo system: The stereo system’s volume can be limited to 44 percent of maximum volume.
(more…)

It seems like 2010 was an extra-busy year in the auto industry. After a catastrophic 2009 for the industry and the economy in general, 2010 was a year for learning and growing.  And with that, here are the top five things I learned in 2010.
1.  Families are passionate about their stick-figure decals.  After several years, our Banish Stick Figure Decals post is the most commented-on post in our history with 179 comments and counting.  The original author of this post called for banishing the stick-figure-family decals on the back of cars, calling them “Aww cute (wretch).”  Many of our readers agreed, and one even suggested a sticker stating, “Honk if you hate car stickers, too.” The opposing argument is that it’s a free world and we should rejoice in our ability to choose “tacky” stick-figure decals for our cars if we want to.  Wow, this is one argument that doesn’t show any signs of slowing in 2011.

2.  Every car deserves a backup camera. One of the biggest news stories for MotherProof.com in 2010 was the proposal from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to eliminate all blind zones from cars by 2014, essentially requiring that every new car have a backup camera. “This proposal from NHTSA is as big as getting seat belts and airbags in vehicles. Someday I hope to have grandchildren, and I’ll talk to them about in the old days when we couldn’t see behind cars. It’s that significant and revolutionary,” stated Janette Fennell, founder of KidsandCars.org.  If your car doesn’t have a backup camera, read this post now on how to avoid a potentially deadly backover, then Google “backup cameras” and find an affordable aftermarket version to order for your car today.

3. Texting and driving is clearly a no-no. We all know this already, but with high-profile celebrities such as Oprah jumping onto the anti-texting-and-driving campaign, it’s actually become cool and trendy to be safe.  And to show your friends and family just how hip you are, you can pick up my favorite app, Otter, which silences all incoming texts and automatically sends an anti-texting-while-driving message to anyone who texts you a text while you’re behind the wheel.  It’s like the 2010 version of driving a Prius.

4. Driving drowsy can be even more dangerous than driving tipsy.  I’ve suspected this very fact after many a late-night drive home from the airport, then realizing that I didn’t even remember the details of driving home. Scary!  Discovery Channel’s “MythBusters” confirmed this very fact in a recent episode. Their test showed that driving drowsy can be between three and 10 times more dangerous than driving tipsy. I’ll be enlisting my fiancé to pick me up upon returning from a long and tiresome business trip from here on out.

5. Self-expression is no longer relegated to our shoe collection. (Although an expressive shoe collection never hurts.) With automakers such as Ford and Smart offering a huge array of vinyl decals straight from the factory, and others such a Scion offering an absolute kaleidoscope of factory paint colors, I no longer scoff at my mom having bought her Ford Focus “because it’s yellow, and nobody else [she] knows drives a yellow car.” I’m trying diligently to keep the Lime Green and Magenta Ford Fiesta out of view of my mom. Even I have my limits.

Here’s to wishing you a safe, happy and colorful 2011.  Happy New Year’s from your friends at MotherProof.com!
(more…)

The same LED lighting technology found in the latest flat screen TVs could also make working with your truck as easy as watching Monday Night Football.
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Ford is recalling 14,737 F-Series pickup trucks and chassis cabs and Edge and Lincoln MKX crossovers from the 2011 model year to fix a defect in the body control module.
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Chrysler is recalling 22,274 Sterling Bullet, Dodge Ram and Ram 4500 AND 5500 chassis cabs from the 2008-11 model years to fix a problem with steering components.
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Taking cues from the 2010 Grand Cherokee, the 2011 Compass has a new grille, headlights, hood, bumper and lower fascia.
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Ford Motor Co. said Thursday it is recalling nearly 15,000 2011 models vehicles over fire concerns.
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A new smartphone app is available for owners of 2010 and 2011 Ford Motor Co. vehicles equipped with the Sync system offering traffic and navigation information.
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