Monitor Your Teen's Driving

If you have teen drivers in your home, new devices and services being offered by auto insurance companies can ease your burdens when it comes to their driving. Check it out here: http://www.insurancefreepress.com/ (http://www.insurancefreepress.com/auto-insurance/teen-drivers-do-they-scare-you-too/)

Orrr......you could try instilling a culture of respect and honesty in your household, so that when your teen says he or she will be at X place, you have every reason to believe them.

It is a good idea, but I would do as Puck says and give your teenager the benefit of the doubt first. Trust is sometimes a difficult thing to earn, but an even harder thing to gain back once lost (man, I need to trademark that one!), so make it count.

I have used less technology-driven surveillance techniques after my step-daughter had several curfew violations (chalk on the insides of the tires to monitor shift in the vehicle's position is tried and true).

I agree completely. However, the stats tell a different story. Unfortunately, many parents feel "out of sight, out of mind". Not all parents have or ever will install any measure of respect in their teens.

Also, there is absolutely no correlation between lack of respect and lack of driving skills. Accidents happen to everyone and your teen driving their automobile on public roads makes you liable for their lack of experience. It is not about respect, it is about safety.

I assume neither of you ever lied to your parents? I for one know that my daughter will respect my authority as her father and I for one know that she will have no reason to have to lie to me but that does not mean that she will not, for whatever reason. Ultimately, the decision is hers to make.

As to other teens, my daughter has several friends who admit to not telling their parents "everything". This is not considered a lie to them, leaving out small details. You may think your teen is perfect and they very well may be. If you want to see the big picture when it comes to the influences in your teens lives, talk to their friends. It can be an eye opening experience.

Also, there is absolutely no correlation between lack of respect and lack of driving skills. Accidents happen to everyone and your teen driving their automobile on public roads makes you liable for their lack of experience. It is not about respect, it is about safety.

Safety's one thing. GPS tracking devices, however, do nothing to ensure that your teen won't be creamed by a sleepy truck driver.

And part of the problem with modern parenting is this idea that DEVICES can ease the burden of actual, hands-on PARENTING. Cell phones, for example, don't make your teen any safer, although every parent I know who has been suckered into providing one cites that as the number one reason they gave their teen a cell phone. In fact, if the data on cell phones and driving is any indication, by giving your teen a cell phone, you might as well hand them a live grenade, with the pin already pulled.

There's no replacement for hands-on parenting.

Once again, you are correct.

However, "hands on parenting" works best in the home. Once your teen is on the road, your hands are not "on" anymore, unless you put the fear of God in them.

You are also correct about the "devices". Cell phones are the number one cause of teen deaths in an automobile.

I am sure you, like myself, are an older gentleman who has seen the decay in parenting skills and the children they produce. It is unfortunate that society has come to the state it is now. However, if it takes an in car video or GPS system to make these inexperienced teens slow down and drive like they have some common sense, I am all for it.

Personally, my teen driver has proven, long before she ever received a license to drive, that she can be trusted with her actions and her words. Like you, I have instilled a level of trust and respect with my teen. I did this by being in every part of her life and by demonstrating that I can find things out without her knowledge. It helps to show up where she says she will be from time to time just to check in and check out the scene.

Unfortunately, there are parents who will have absolutely no more influence in their teens lives other than what one of these devices provide. This is sad for them. I find young people to be rejuvenating. At my age, rejuvenation is a good thing.

I am sure you, like myself, are an older gentleman

Not quite! I am a 39 year old female teaching at a four-year university. Although I do not parent myself, I become a kind of "parent" to about 150 freshmen and sophomores every semester. I also have twelve nieces/nephews and great-nieces/nephews from age 2 to 26.

who has seen the decay in parenting skills and the children they produce.

Indeed -- see above, and my experience in teaching. There are some magnificent parents out there, who are concerned without smothering their kids, and I love to see their wonderful young adults in my classrooms. It is these magnificent parents who teach me that we don't need gadgets or gimmicks to parent children -- but we DO need to parent them, especially when they think they are too old to be parented (teenagers).

I don't think we are in disagreement at all, friend!

And part of the problem with modern parenting is this idea that DEVICES can ease the burden of actual, hands-on PARENTING

I agree wholeheartedly with Puck that hands on parenting is one of the most effective things that you can do to instill responsibility in teenage drivers. I for one will not just outright purchase a car for either of my children unless they at least work to earn some of the money to contribute to the purchase price. I also require them to pay a portion of their auto insurance premiums so as to hopefully teach them a little bit of the responsibility that is needed for car ownership.

I had to chime in on the discussion. Take a look at TeenSafeDriver.com, it is a program American Family Insurance (in 18 states) is offering free to its policy holders and it is not about no respect for your children but it is about a way to help coach or parent while you are not in the vehilce with them and can show bad habits developing while they get more and more friends or distractions in the car. It is not a GPS but a camera that will turn on and record 10 seconds before and 10 seconds after a sudden movement, jerk, speed up, or brake and will email the parents that video along with some recommendations from professionals at the website. So if it can help save lives or make them a better driver, why wouldn't you do it. Yeah your child drives awesome with you in the car, so why not have them drive awesome without you in the car? This device has increased seat belt wearing 100% in the pilot states.

Goped, this is not the place or time for your trash.

wow technology nowadays is really something...but to you think that this is really necessary? what happened to the old fashion style of trust... i think when the teen found out about this they would only rebel more...