Watching your teenager obtain a driver’s license is a rite of passage, but it’s terrifying to think about turning over the keys to a 3,000-pound weapon. Fortunately, technology can help monitor your teen driver’s activities behind the wheel, even when you’re not in the car. These driving apps are designed to protect your young driver and give you peace of mind.
Rite of passage
Teen drivers have long been notorious for speeding and careless driving. In fact, 16-year-olds have higher crash rates than drivers of any other age, according to DoSomething.org. And now, of course, they have technology to distract them. Sure, there are laws aplenty to minimize cell phone use while driving, but they remain a major problem such that the federal government has a website, Distraction.gov, which is devoted to the topic of distracted driving.
“Ten percent of drivers age 15 to 19 killed in car crashes were distracted at the time of their accident,” says Chicago personal injury lawyer Jared Staver, who’s seen his share of driving accidents. Those distractions include passengers, food, music and, of course, the almighty cell phone. “Parents can use road safety apps to curtail the use of mobile devices by teens while they’re behind the wheel,” says Staver.
Minimize the likelihood that your child will text and drive, speed, travel beyond a designated area or break curfew with one of these proven apps:
AT&T Drive Mode
A free app for iPhone and Androids. It turns on when the car is moving and notifies parents if the app is disabled. It silences text message notifications and automatically replies to texts while the app is turned on.
Canary
In addition to notifying you when your teen uses the phone while behind the wheel, this app lets you know if he or she exceeds the speed limit or breaks the curfew you’ve set in the app.
Cellcontrol
Consists of a little black box that fits onto the windshield and an app that is loaded onto your teen’s smartphone. The combination lets you control what your teen can and cannot do on their phone while the wheel.
Drive Alive Lite
Uses a carrot instead of a stick, awarding points to teen drivers when they drive without using their phone. The app motivates your adolescent to ignore the phone and earn cash or discounts.
DriveScribe
Monitors your teen’s driving and offers tips on how to drive more safely. It keeps track of the routes and speed.
Hum by Verizon
With this app, you’ll always know how and where your teen is driving. Hum not only provides boundary alerts and speed activity reports, it also gives diagnostic information on your car’s operation and can summon roadside assistance (great for older cars that aren’t equipped with such features).
Hyundai Blue Link
Designed to prevent teens from taking risks while driving. It lets you limit their maximum driving speed, set driving curfews and limit the distance the car can be driven.
iOnRoad Smart Driver
Among other safety features, this app has a collision warning feature that can help reduce the instances of car crashes.
Autobrain
Created by parents, techies and a volunteer first responder. It plugs into the diagnostic port of your car to report back when your teen speeds, goes to the wrong place or has an accident.
Originally published by Avvo
