GPS Vehicle Tracker – A Sign of Parental Mistrust of Teen Driver?

Recently we received an email from someone working in the teen driving arena who expressed concerns about people using GPS vehicle tracking in the cars their teenagers drive. The writer said that it can raise issues of privacy and trust between parents and teens. Especially, they continued, if the GPS tracking unit is installed without the teen’s knowledge.

We couldn’t agree more that parents should NEVER install a GPS tracker without the teen’s knowledge. But on the general issue of privacy and trust between parent and teen, both issues that come up from time to time, the writer asked us for our opinion. Here’s what we replied by email; perhaps this will resonate with some readers.

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Dear [name withheld for privacy],

Thanks for asking our thoughts on the use of GPS trackers and bumper stickers that identify teen drivers.

Yes, the trust and privacy issue does crop up sometimes. We have an article from Dr. Robin Kirby on our web site that addresses the issue of trust and spying on kids that might be of interest. Robin is a Clinical Psychologist who does a lot of work with families and teens.  She sees many families in which the parents are “abdicating” their true parenting responsibilities and has said this is almost at epidemic proportions these days.

For example, parents often believe that THEIR teen is somehow different than other teens, and therefore do not handle their parenting responsibilities with the insight or attention needed.  Allstate did a study that verifies this further, calling it the “not MY teen syndrome.” Their study also points out how uninformed parents are on issues surrounding teen driving.

Because driving crashes are the #1 killer and injury cause for teens, it only makes sense for parents to be parents – not just friends to their kids, or too busy with social life, work and other activities to get truly engaged on driving safety.  Here are a few articles that speak to this. The Allstate study in particular bears close reading.

Dr. Kirby’s article:
http://www.safeteendrivingclub.org/reading_article.php?ID=5
Allstate study:
http://www.safeteendrivingclub.org/reading_article.php?ID=15
Parenting Style Can Contribute to Teen Car Crashes:
http://www.safeteendrivingclub.org/media.php
Why Teenagers Act Weird:
http://www.safeteendrivingclub.org/reading_article.php?ID=48

None of this is to indict parents. We all live busy lives. But here at Safe Teen Driving Club we do try to elevate the issue of proper parenting as it relates to driving, which, after all, is about keeping one’s precious child safe, intact and alive. Bumper stickers and GPS vehicle trackers are just tools that concerned parents can use to help in the process. We believe that every parent should use GPS for at least the first year of driving with the Intermediate license, because that’s where the crash rate skyrockets, especially in the early months. National Safety Council reports 58% of teens crash in the first year; 80% in three years.  With these facts in hand, we think it makes sense for parents to be parents and take responsibility for their kids rather than just turning them loose with a car and hoping for the best because “it won’t happen to my teen.”  Of course a parent-teen contract plays a huge role in this, and it’s also something we highly recommend.

And of course, we don’t indict teens either. They’re growing, learning and developing. There’s a lot on brain development that shows kids are not often able to make mature decisions, to anticipate outcomes of their actions. When it comes to a parent saying, “Yes, I trust my child,” that trust doesn’t speak to what teens actually DO, often on the spur of the moment.  There’s another study that bears review too from NHTSA: http://www.safeteendrivingclub.org/reading_article.php?ID=6.  It’s amazing what those focus groups discovered kids actually do in a car when parents are not with them. So trust alone doesn’t answer the question, “What might my child do when I’m not watching over him?”

There are just too many kids dying and coming out of ER’s with life-changing injuries to allow us to feel that privacy or trust issues take precedence over sound parenting and keeping kids alive.

Finally, I completely agree that parents should NEVER install GPS without telling their child. Doing that does appear to be a clear indication of trust lacking in the relationship. Instead, parents should talk with their child, explain why they’re installing GPS, and then discuss GPS reports on a regular basis as part of an on-going parenting/coaching program aimed at improving their child’s’ driving behavior and safety.

In the meantime, I applaud your work and wish you the best as you continue working with teens and their parents. I’m sure you’ll have a real impact on families. My best wishes!

8 Tips for Saving Money on Teen Auto Insurance

These tips can save you real money on auto insurance for your teen driver.

1. If you’re buying a car for your teen, choose an inexpensive safe car that carries lower premiums. Visit www.safercar.gov to get safety ratings on over 2,500 vehicles. If you put your teen in a high powered, expensive car, you’ll pay higher premiums and expose your teen to temptation and greater risk should he decide to “test out” his skills at high speed.

2. Shop around for insurance. If you’re putting your teen on your policy, chances are you won’t want to change your carrier. But you can use the Internet to find the rates and protection that you are looking for, often at better rates than your own carrier offers.

3. Limit your teen’s driving. Keep the mileage down to a minimum to keep the premium rate low. Lower mileage can mean a lower premium.

4. Raise Deductibles. Deductibles are the amount you pay out of pocket when you or your teen are involved in a crash. The higher your deductible amount, the lower your premium.

5. Encourage your teen to get good grades. Most carriers offer a good student discount. Many parents make getting good grades a condition of driving. No matter how you handle the issue, be sure to apply for the good student discount, and any others that may apply.

6. Use an active GPS monitor. Many insurance companies provide discounts for motorists who equip their vehicle with an active GPS tracking unit. These discounts are mandatory in some states, as the GPS unit qualifies as an anti-theft device.

7. Avoid insuring a hybrid vehicle for your teen. The IIHS reports this month that hybrids cost insurance companies more than otherwise identical vehicles running on gas. Of a dozen vehicles that are available in both conventional gas and hybrid models, ten of the 12 hybrids had higher “crash severity” than their gas-powered counterparts. When insurers pay higher claims, you pay higher premiums.

8. Complete an advanced defensive driving course. Many carriers offer discounts for teens who complete defensive driving programs. Our most popular program, which can be done at home in about 8-10 hours, is the teenSMART^® program, which can save hundreds or perhaps up to $1,000 on premiums over the time your teen drives. See the web site for more detail.

Safe Teen Driving Club – What We Do, And Why…

Our Mission

To help you (Mom and Dad!) safeguard and protect your teen,
leading to reduced driving crashes, injuries and fatalities.

What We Do

We provide education and information for parents to help them protect and safeguard their children as they begin driving. To help parents with concrete and actionable steps they can take, we also deliver services and tools — proven to reduce the likelihood of a crash — to help parents keep their teens safe and alive.

Why We Do It

There is no other threat that consistently takes over 5,000 young lives each year. If there were, our nation would long ago have been galvanized into action to do whatever was necessary to stop the carnage. Yet teen driving has been a national health and safety issue — and a tragedy for thousands of families — every year since the late 1950’s when teens began driving in large numbers. We believe there is no more important step we can take for our young people than focusing on ways to keep them alive behind the wheel.

About Safe Teen Driving Club

Vehicle crashes are the #1 cause of death and injury for youngsters age 15 to 20. Guns, drugs, suicide, homicide and all other causes take a back seat to driving crashes. Nearly half of teen deaths result from vehicle crashes. For those who survive crashes, some 300,000 teens must be treated in hospital ER’s each year, many with life-changing injuries.

The Safe Teen Driving Club is a community of concerned parents, teens and professionals, and a resource for protecting teenage drivers and their families. We are working with parents, schools, educators, businesses, non-profits and public policy makers to create a safer driving environment for teens, while giving parents the tools and services they need to significantly affect and improve their teen’s driving behavior. We want to help you keep them safe!

Driving Tip – Scanning Ahead Avoids Crashes

One of the most common crash causes is taking eyes of the road ahead, whether due to distraction or another reason. It only takes about two seconds of inattention to lose control, especially in high speed or high traffic environments. Here’s a tip you can use with your teen driver to start a good habit that will keep him or her safer.

According to Consolidated Driving Programs, Inc., we should all scan the roadway using an orderly search pattern. Begin with scanning 20 to 30 seconds ahead, to both sides of the road and behind the vehicle using rear- and side-view mirrors. Getting the “big picture” lets you make plans for avoiding hazards.

Next, scan 12 to 15 seconds ahead, looking for curves, hills, bridges, cross roads, traffic signals, pedestrians, animals, etc.

Next, scan six to eight seconds ahead to identify things like the steepness of hills, width of bridges, road hazards and other potential conflicts.

Finally, scanning one to two seconds ahead, you can now decide if it’s safe to proceed, or if there’s a need to adjust lane position, speed, etc.

The next time you drive, make it a point to consciously scan ahead as outlined. You’ll notice that your driving becomes a much more active task, rather than the semi-conscious mode many of us are usually in behind the wheel. Once you get the feel for scanning, teach your teen how to do it. They certainly don’t need to drive semi-conscious, and this scanning exercise will set a good pattern for them.

For more detailed information, check out our Safety Store for a series of new Driver’s Education products from our newest partner, Consolidated Driving Programs, Inc.

Car Safety Innovation and Technology – Parents Still Responsible for Safety!

There is a lot of innovation in car safety. However, this does not mean we can simply send our teens to a driver’s education class and hand them the keys to the car! In 2006, 5,156 teenagers ages 13-19 died in motor vehicle crashes. While this is 3 percent fewer than in 2005, this is far too many of our children lost unnecessarily.* We need to stay engaged in every aspect of our teens’ driving experience, beyond the moment they receive their full license. You may have read that smaller cars have become safer. The driver death rate for small cars has declined, but it is still significantly higher than for the safest vehicles – the largest sedans. Carefully consider the car you put your child into, especially when they have little or no experience on their own.

What’s New in Safety Features**. Look for front and side airbags. Investigate rollover ratings, one of the leading causes of death and injury for teens. Ask about electronic stability, which helps drivers maintain control and keep the car on the road. Ask about advanced frontal air bags. These use the appropriate level of power by automatically detecting the occupant’s size, severity of the crash and seatbelt use. As of September 1, 2006, all new vehicles are required to be certified to this new standard. Look for tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS). Under inflation is a leading cause of tire failure. TPMS uses a warning light to let the driver know if tires are underinflated. All new vehicles from September 1, 2007 have TPMS.

For more information on selecting a safe car for your teen: Select A Safe Car.

GPS Monitoring. There is GPS technology everywhere these days. Most of us are familiar with navigational GPS that helps get from point A to point B. And many of you use GPS tracking to monitor your teen driver. But, are you staying engaged? Don’t stop when it is installed. Review the data with your teen on a regular basis: daily at the beginning, at least weekly thereafter. Use the reporting and maps of the GPS tracking system to discuss speed, where they have been, time of day and other information as it relates to your rules for their driving. More On Teen GPS Tracking Systems

Safe Teen Driving Pledge. Research confirms that parents who set rules for their teen drivers and take an active role in monitoring and managing their teen’s driving enjoy far lower accident rates than those who do not. Many states across the country recommend using a written “parent-teen” agreement or contract to establish those rules. Get your Safe Teen Driving Club free download.

Drive with your teen. They have their full license and can legally drive alone. This does not mean that they have magically become experienced drivers. Drive with them whenever you can. Whether going to an event or to the store, give them the keys and watch how they are progressing and see if they making the right judgment calls when necessary. They may need to brush up on skills. Consider honing your teen’s skills with teenSMART® Defensive Driver Training…science-based and proven to reduce crashes through safer driving. Major insurance companies offer substantial discounts for teens who pass the teenSMART^® Certification — discounts that may save you far more than the cost of the teenSMART^® training program. Parents Deserve A Brake is another training tool for improving driving skills. This is a user-friendly program that outlines teaching techniques and proven tips used by professional driver education instructors. It’s designed for parents who want to teach correct and safe driving techniques to their child, or reinforce the driver competencies taught during school-based or commercial driver education courses.

* http://www.iihs.org/research/fatality_facts_2006/teenagers.html
** www.safercar.gov