Do you have a Teen son or daughter who just started to drive a car? This experience might be very exciting for them, but, for Parents, this could be a scary one and for good reasons. According to the latest information from AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, Drivers between the ages of 16 and 17 are three times more likely to be involved in a deadly collision compared to adult drivers. Moreover, motor vehicle-related accidents are the leading cause of death for teenagers living in the US.
So what can parents do to make it less scary for them to let their teens drive a two-ton vehicle?
Here are the latest technologies that would make it a lot safer for your teens to drive.
The car manufacturers’ safety features
Car makers now install safety systems that can be customized by parents for their teen drivers. In particular, Ford’s 'MyKey' system allows parents to limit the volume for the radio so music would not be a distraction for their kids while they should be watching the road. Ford also has the 'Belt-Minder' that mutes the speakers until the seatbelts are worn. Parents can also limit the car’s top speed from exceeding 65, 70, 75 or 80 MPH.
Meanwhile, Chevrolet introduced its own safety system called 'Teen Driver Technology'. This feature is also capable of limiting the volume of its radio and sets speed alerts.
What about teens who drive older car models?
Fortunately, new technologies for safer teen drivers are not limited to the latest models of cars. It may also be applicable for older cars as well. The 'License+' is a program for Android and iOS devices that act as a coach for teen drivers. It works with a device called 'Automatic' that can be installed on your car.
The device sends data such as acceleration, braking, and speed among others to the app via Bluetooth or 3G connection. Parents can also login into the License+ and monitor how their kids are doing on the road anytime.
There are also app-only solutions for parents to consider. AT&T offers an app called 'Drive Mode app'. The app mutes any notifications when it knows the person is driving to prevent distractions.
Apple also has a similar feature called 'Do Not Disturb While Driving'.
In addition, if you want your teen to be ready for driving before they get their driver’s license, there is an online VR driver’s education simulator developed by Aceable. This is an ideal way of teaching teens how to test braking skills, basic driving etiquette and also how to parallel park.
