During the week I came upon information about a new program that helps students be better, safer drivers. It seemed a natural follow-up on the credit card article, although it's not about money per se. But if you have kids between the ages of 16 and 20, read on.

Ford Motor Company recently rolled out a new device that can limit the speed a car can be driven. And it does other "safe" things as well.

Called MyKey, it consists of  a "smart" or programmable key that limits the car's top speed to 80 mph. If you live in the wide open spaces of the West, 80 might seem logical but for families in urban areas, parents can set the speed-alert chime to off when the car hits 45, 55, or 65 mph. The car then takes control and drops to the designated speed.

You can also program the audio volume so that it's at about half volume, loud enough to still sing along with the music but quiet enough to even have a real conversation!

When using MyKey, the car's traction control cannot be deactivated. This puts an end to several popular maneuvers among teens - such as fishtailing and doing doughnuts.

MyKey was initially on only a few models, but it's becoming standard and comes with many Ford, Lincoln and Mercury models, including Taurus, Focus and Escape SUV.

To activate the various controls, the car must be started with a MyKey.

Bottom line: Last year, 4,497 drivers between the ages of 16 and 20 died in car accidents according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Car accidents, in fact are the leading cause of death for kids in this age range. 

Just in case you thought Ford Motor Co. offered me a new car to write about MyKey, may I remind you that I live in the middle of Manhattan. I have a short commute given that my office is in my apartment. And when I do venture outdoors, I take the bus or subway and now and then, a taxi!