The statistics are indeniable: Teen drivers are harmful, to themselves and others. Automobile crashes are among the many main causes of dying for youngsters—2,800 in 2020 along with about 227,000 accidents, in line with the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention. In per-mile deaths, that was almost triple the speed of drivers 20 and older. Inexperience, distraction and night-time driving are among the many main elements contributing to accidents.

Crashes can’t be eradicated, however there are steps dad and mom can take to enhance their children’ security. Many automobiles come geared up to sluggish if you get too near the automotive in entrance of you, appropriate your path for those who drift into one other lane and inform you if somebody is in your blind spot. These options work for everyone, not simply teenagers. A number of producers have capabilities particularly focusing on teen security constructed into some fashions. 

However do most dad and mom know this? That’s uncertain. The Insurance coverage Institute for Freeway Security (IIHS) discovered salespeople and producers may enhance the best way they clarify and promote the programs. Chevrolet does a greater job than most, the IIHS discovered. Chevy’s teen driver security characteristic, out there in a number of fashions, permits dad and mom to program the automotive to refuse to enter drive till seatbelts are mounted, set a velocity most and put a restrict on how loud the radio or streaming gadget could be. The characteristic produces a “teen driver report card,” which the producer says could embody “distance pushed, most velocity, overspeed warnings, variety of instances the accelerator pedal was floored and when sure security programs had been triggered, reminiscent of traction management.”

Along with options inside the automobiles, there are additionally myriad driving security apps, or on the very least report teen driving habits (each protected and unsafe). Like nanny cams, the apps let dad and mom know what’s occurring once they’re not there. Some apps produce studies gauging a driver’s efficiency based mostly on velocity, acceleration, braking and extra. The dad and mom can use that data as they see match. 

4 driving security apps for you and your teen

Life360

Many of those apps cowl the identical primary floor. This appears to be the most well-liked, no less than in my peer group. With hundreds of thousands of downloads, it covers extra than simply driving: It provides crash detection, emergency dispatch, roadside help, a household driving abstract and particular person driving studies. 

RoadReady

RoadReady promotes its potential to trace driving time. We reside in Missouri, which requires teen drivers to have their permits for six months and attain time thresholds in complete driving time and evening driving earlier than getting their licenses. The state doesn’t mandate proof that my daughter reached these limits, however that doesn’t make me wish to hit them any much less. RoadReady provides a easy option to maintain observe.

TrueMotion Household Protected Driving

This app provides all drivers, not simply teenagers, a rating based mostly on how they drive (avoiding distraction, following the velocity restrict, and many others.). When dad and mom use it as properly, this removes the teenager driver’s lament that it’s not honest that they’re scrutinized and no one else is. This additionally permits for pleasant competitors, as dad and mom and youths can evaluate their scores and attempt to enhance them. Frankly, in analyzing my very own habits within the context of educating my daughter to drive, I’ve realized that I may use a refresher course.

DriveSmart

This app robotically routes incoming calls to voicemail, mutes notifications about incoming texts and sends a reply that the consumer is unavailable. Like many different options throughout these apps, that is geared towards teenagers however could be priceless for any driver. Does any of this assist? In a examine of in-car security options and teen-specific applied sciences, the IIHS concluded, “Assuming these applied sciences had been universally used and utterly efficient, the researchers concluded that collectively they might stop or mitigate 41% of all crashes involving teen drivers and as many as 47% of stripling driver accidents and 78% of stripling driver deaths.”

Matt Crossman is a 20-year NASCAR author who just lately taught his teenage daughter, Maria, tips on how to drive. Armed with driving suggestions from such famend names as Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson, Crossman primed Maria on the foundations of the street and located they had been additionally relevant to navigating one’s job. He shares these reflections in his article, “4 Driving Classes from the Execs that Will Assist Your Profession”, in addition to the driving security apps talked about right here, to assist others keep knowledgeable on methods to maintain teen drivers protected.

Matt Crossman is a author based mostly in St. Louis. He writes about sports activities, journey, journey {and professional} improvement. Electronic mail him at [email protected]