Parents, It’s Getting Easier to Monitor Your Teen’s Driving Behavior

General Motors announced that it has developed technology that will allow parents to pre-set certain controls on their teenager’s vehicle before they hit the road on their own.

Using the “Teen Driver” feature, parents can program the car to issue visual and audible warnings when the driver exceeds a certain speed. It also can be set to control the volume of stereo systems, which anyone who has ever been next to a young driver at a stoplight knows can be deafening.

The technology also aims to curb some known factors that contribute to teen driving fatalities, such as seat belt use. Research has shown that young people wear their seat belts less than any other group of drivers. GM’s new system will automatically shut off the radio and other connected devices if occupants are not buckled up in the front seat.

Even better for parents, the car can provide a report card after a teen has been behind the wheel, showing how often safety features like the anti-lock brakes and electronic stability control systems have been activated. That can give them an idea of whether their teens have been consistently engaging in unsafe driving behaviors that could lead to car accidents.

The system will first be available in the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu. GM says that it plans to put it in additional models in the future.

Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death for teenagers today. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the fatal crash rate per mile driven for 16 to 19 year-olds is nearly three times the rate for drivers 20 and older. In Kentucky, 80 young drivers were involved in fatal crashes in 2013, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. So far in 2015, 15 young drivers ages 16 to 19 have been in traffic accidents, the Kentucky State Police reports.

The good news is that GM is not the only automaker that it focused on building a safer vehicle for teens. In 2010, Ford came out with its MyKey* feature, which gives parents nearly identical abilities to pre-set their teen’s driving capabilities. Other automakers are continuing to develop similar features in their “connected” vehicles.

Many parents won’t be in a position to afford a new, smarter car of the future right away. Even if your car is an older model, there are ways to check up on how your teen is performing on the roads. A variety of safety apps for smartphones can alert you when your teen driver is not behaving responsibly behind the wheel. You can buy small devices for your car that fit in a port under the steering wheel and can provide information about how well a driver – and not just your teen – is doing on the roads.

As automakers strive to build safer vehicles, the Frank Jenkins Law Office urges parents to maintain an open discussion with their children about the importance of safe driving. Discuss distracted driving and drunk driving with them. Even if you are met with the inevitable eye roll or teenage groan of disgust, have faith that some part of your message is being heard.

When you are capable of affording a newer vehicle, consider purchasing a vehicle that is equipped with some of the innovative safety features available today. That doesn’t mean that you must have a programmable system like Teen Driver. Inquire about used cars that are sturdy and equipped with electronic stability control. Earlier this year, the IIHS issued this report about the safest cars for teen drivers to assist in your search.