Angel on shoulder of teen drivers, or at least a snitch
Technological advances have made cars safer in many ways. There are systems that brake if a collision is imminent, warn the driver and take control if the car leaves the lane, and issue alerts when pedestrians are about to step into the road. To those, add systems that will warn parents if their teenager is misbehaving behind the wheel.
Many vehicle manufacturers now offer driving monitors as optional or standard equipment. Among them are Lexus, Volkswagen, General Motors, Ford, Toyota, Kia and Hyundai. Aftermarket devices are available as well.
If this technology had been available a half-century ago, my parents would have been witness to latenight high-speed forays across the Illinois-Wisconsin state line in the family car.
Upon reviewing my electronic driving report card, Dad could have set range limits on how far I could travel, how loud I could crank up the radio, how fast I could drive and more. Disappointing to the driver, but safer for everyone.
A report on teenage driving by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said that in 2018, 2,121 people were killed in accidents involving a driver 15 to 18 years old. The report said that the graduated driver licensing systems that have been adopted by all states had reduced crash risks, but motor vehicle crashes were still the leading cause of death for 15- to 18-yearolds in the United States. While the NHTSA report didn’t recommend driving monitors specifically, it did emphasize the importance of communication between parents and their teenagers who drive. And discussing a monitoring system’s driving data is a great way to develop a dialogue.
General Motors introduced a monitoring system on its 2016 Malibu, and it is now offered on many of the company’s vehicles. On the 2021 Trailblazer, the system can be activated by working one’s way through the dashboard display’s menu to the “teen driver” section. There, a PIN is chosen that enables parental control of variables. After choosing “setup keys” in the menu, the driver’s vehicle key can be linked to the system by placing it in a console receptacle and clicking OK. The monitoring system will be active only when the vehicle is driven with that key.
The GM system records data on a report card that can be seen only after entering the PIN at the conclusion of the drive. The data includes the maximum speed attained and distance driven. Reported as well as the number of speed warnings issued.