New app lets parents track teen drivers

But lawyer warns of privacy concerns if it’s used covertly

FREDERICTON— A new smartphone app means parents can now be back seat drivers to their kids, without having to leave home, and an Internet and privacy lawyer says its use raises some interesting questions.

Fredericton-based GeodeTech has released its GeodeVu tracking app that records a driver’s route along with driving behaviours, such as speeding, hard braking, and even distracted driving.

“We call our product a solution for driver analysis and behaviour coaching,” said Michel Chiasson, the company’s CEO. “As you start driving around, what’s going to happen is you will see the true behaviours coming through.”

The app can be downloaded free on Android, iOS and BlackBerry 10 phones, while the tracking service will cost you a monthly rate of $9.95.

The app uses the GPS and other functions in the driver’s phone to track its location and whether it’s used for calls or texting while the car is in motion.

Parents concerned with driver training can log in to a website to see how their child has been driving.

“What are the great behaviours that we want to reinforce and what are things that we want to change?” said Chiasson.

He said his company has a lot of competitors, but right now it’s the only one that is tracking distracted driving.

“We think we have something very unique in the fact that we are leveraging the technology in mobile phones.”

Aside from tracking young drivers, GeodeTech is promoting its service to companies with fleet vehicles and to insurance companies to rate drivers for good driver rebates.

Chiasson said the app now has a little more than 1,000 users and is about to start making a profit.

David Fraser, a lawyer with the firm McInnes Cooper in Halifax, said the advent of smartphones, while making it easier and cheaper to track people, raises privacy concerns.

He said companies can track your driving and location if it is reasonable under the circumstances, such as a company needing to know where their trucks are and if they are being driven properly. But it should never be done covertly.

“You should always make sure that if it is being used for employees that they are told that this is happening and that they are told about the policies that are underlying it,” he said.

He said the same applies to the driving habits of your child.