One of the most nerve-wracking things a parent can experience is letting their teenage driver head out on the roadway on their own. While this may be necessary, parents still do what they can to ensure that their kids are safe behind the wheel. Technological innovations have made it possible for parents to use various monitoring systems to keep tabs on their child’s driving. What are these systems, and do they work?
Options for monitoring teen driving
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were more than 3,000 total teenage driver deaths (aged 15 to 19) across the country during the latest reporting year. The NHTSA says that vehicle accidents are still the leading cause of teenage deaths in the United States. According to a study in the journal Pediatrics, teens who say that their parents set rules and pay attention to their driving activities or half as likely to get into car accidents.
- Built-in options. Several automotive manufacturers now offer built-in systems in their new vehicles that allow parents to set limits on their teen’s speed and driving time. Some systems are so sophisticated that they have a tracking feature that allows for the creation of geographic boundaries that alert parents when their teenage drivers leave a certain area.
- Aftermarket technology. For vehicles that do not have this type of built-in technology, parents can still keep track of their teenage driver’s activities through aftermarket technology. This can include devices that parents install inside their teen’s vehicle as well as apps that can be downloaded and put on their child’s phone.
Along with apps and devices that keep track of where a teenager is driving and how fast they drive, there are also ways to reduce distracted teenage driving. A recent survey by the AAA Foundation found that teenage drivers were distracted nearly 25% of the time that they were behind the wheel of a vehicle. Parents often have the option of turning on “do not disturb” features on their child’s phone well they are driving.
Does driver monitoring technology work?
As we mentioned above, the leading cause of death for teenagers is car accidents. Anything that helps reduce the number of crashes that teenagers get into will be helpful. Studies show that teenagers operate their vehicles more safely when they know that they are being monitored by a parent. While this teenage driver-assistive technology will not prevent all accidents from occurring, any reduction in the number of these incidents is a positive thing.
What to do if your child is in a car crash
If your child has been involved in a car accident, you may need to seek legal assistance. Whether your child is at fault or not, it is a good idea to seek a free consultation from an attorney. Even if another driver is at fault for an accident, they may use the fact that your child is a teenager to try to blame them for the crash. At Tiano O’Dell, PLLC, our team is ready to investigate your claim and work to secure any compensation you may be entitled to. You can contact our West Virginia car accident attorneys for a free consultation online or by calling (304) 720-6700.