Impressive car technology that helps keep teen drivers safe

Any parent will tell you that one of the scariest times of their life is when they first hand the car keys over to their teen, but some automakers are offering a way for parents to monitor and place limits on their teen's driving behaviors.

Car crashes are the number-one killer of teens with speeding, lack of seat belt use, drinking, and distraction as contributing factors. We looked at four manufacturer systems that aim to help curb those dangerous behaviors: Ford MyKey, GM Family Link, Hyundai BlueLink, and Mercedes-Benz mbrace2.

Ford's MyKey became standard on most Ford models in 2009 with some enhancements in 2011. It allows a parent to program a second vehicle key that holds specific driving restrictions. Here are some of the features offered to parents:

• Program a top speed up to 80 mph, with chimes when the car goes to 45, 55, or 65 mph.
  
• Screen and block explicit radio stations available on satellite.
  
• Sets off a chime when a seat belt isn't fastened and also prevents the radio from going on until the driver buckles up.
  
• Limit audio volume.
  
• Set the low-fuel warning at an earlier level, so instead of 50 miles to empty, you can change it to 75 miles.
  
• Driving aids such as blind spot, park aid, and traction control cannot be deactivated.
  

Hyundai BlueLink is similar to OnStar in that it keeps track of the vehicle and driver's safety in an emergency. For $179 a year, you get roadside-assistance features in addition to teen safeguards, such as a speed alert, geo-fence, and curfew alert. This allows parents to set these boundaries on the car and to receive a message when they are overridden.

Mercedes-Benz mbrace2 has the same type of vehicle assistance and teen safety features as BlueLink. It adds an interesting feature called Safe Ride that allows the driver to signal they need help getting home, such as if they are tired or intoxicated. Safe Ride calls a parent or a taxi, as needed. The cost for mbrace2 is $280 a year and $20 more for mbrace plus, which adds a geo-fence, speed alerts, driving journal, and travel assistance.

These in-car features are a good way for parents to have peace of mind when sending their teen out on the road. The fees can sometimes sound expensive for these services, yet in reality, most families would probably use them just for a couple of years and they do come with additional benefits.

Of course, most parents don't necessarily buy a new car for their teen, but when sharing a family car (which saves on insurance), teens can benefit from these potentially life-saving services.

—Liza Barth