The company will roll out a new feature on many 2010 models that can limit teen drivers to 130km/h, using a computer chip in the key.

Parents in the United States, where most teens can get their driver's licence at 16, also have the option of programming the car key to limit the audio system's volume, and to sound continuous alerts if the driver doesn't wear a seatbelt.

Ford's director of electronic and electrical systems engineering, Jim Buczkowski, said, ''Our message to parents is, hey, we are providing you some conditions to give your new drivers that may allow you to feel a little more comfortable in giving them the car more often.''

More than 5000 US teens die each year in car crashes. The rate of crashes, fatal and non-fatal, per kilometre driven for 16-year-old drivers is almost 10 times the rate for drivers ages 30 to 59, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Ford arrived at the 130km/h limit even though freeway speed limits were lower in most states because it wanted to leave a margin in case an unusual situation arose, Mr Buczkowski said.

In some states, freeway speed limits are above 110 km/h.

MyKey will sound a six-second chime every minute if seatbelts are not fastened. The car won't start unless it recognises the chip in the key.

The feature will debut on the 2010 Focus compact car and quickly move to its other models as a standard feature.

Ford said its market research showed 75 per cent of parents liked the speed and audio limits, but 67per cent of teens didn't. AP