Are Tracking Devices For Teen Drivers A Good Idea?

Many teens and parents view teen driving as a step toward adulthood. Handing over the keys is a passing on to your teen driver of adult-like responsibilities.  Trust is a key component. Parents trust that their teen driver will act like an adult, drive safely and not engage in risky behavior.

A recent article in the Detroit News discusses electronic devices that monitor teen driving and alert parents to risky driving. Some devices record video when driving mistakes are made and others send alerts to parents when their teen driver is driving unsafely.

According to some insurance companies and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, these monitoring devices can effectively reduce risky driving. For example, one insurance company claims that it has seen a 65% reduction in unsafe driving.

But many parents and teens see these devices as a violation of trust. Installing the device is seen as not trusting the young person. Young people need to make their own decisions and be responsible for their own lives.

These devices raise many questions. Should the devices be mandated for all new drivers? Should they be used only for a short period of time, say, six months? Should it be up to the parents to decide whether to install the device? Should insurance companies offer discounts if the device is installed? What does it say to new drivers? Is it fair to new drivers to require that these devices be installed?

What do you think?

For more discussions on driver safety, visit the Mark Langschied Law blog.