When a teenager learns how to drive for the first time, there is a big difference between the thoughts children and parents feel. Kids want to get out on the road and explore the world. Parents just want their teens to be safe and sound.
Adults know it is simply not possible to shield the world from their teens forever. They also have to accept the dangers that come with being an inexperienced driver. Auto insurance companies also know what a risk it is to have a teen driver on their watch, and the policy costs match that risk.
How much does insurance go up after an accident for a teen? Parents have to worry about the impact of a wreck not only on their family but also on their financial situation. So what can be done to help avoid these accidents in the future? Is there anything they can buy to help this process?
We’ll discuss how driving technology has helped expand the control parents have over their teen drivers. We’ll also give some tips on how to influence teen driving with rewards if young drivers do the right thing during a night out with friends.
Driving Apps That Track Activity
While your teen may not like it, parents should love the variety of apps that track driving behavior in 2021. One of the best ones on the market is an app named Famisafe. This can be installed on your child’s phone so that you can get updates on things like location, speed, brake times, what time they are out driving, and more.
Parents can even put a geographical limit on where their child is supposed to drive. If they take the car out of these limits, the app will notify the parents. While it won’t stop the child from going where they want, it will give parents a heads-up that simply wasn’t available in decades past.
With apps like Famisafe, you can communicate with your child more clearly on how you want them to drive and what areas they can improve in the future.
Positive Effects of Monitoring Teen Driving
One of the biggest positive effects of great driving beyond the obvious safety benefits is the money you can save. Insurance companies will look at how often teen drivers avoid accidents and fender-benders and will reward them financially. Decreased policy rates and savings work just like they would with any other age group.
Average policy increases come in at around an extra $82 a month when you get into an accident, and this can be even worse for teenagers. Keeping an eye on your teen’s driving and letting them know how much money they can save you by driving safely will go a long way in motivating them to continue good driving habits.
Rewarding them with more driving privileges when they go a certain amount of time driving safely will show them you recognize more than just the mess-ups. Far too often, parents only criticize instead of giving credit for positive outcomes. Keep this in mind when you are parenting and trying to figure out why your child reacts negatively to your feedback.
Let them go a little farther out of the city limits every time they come back home on time without any accidents. Think about buying another accessory like a wheel cover or an armrest when they prove they can be safe and follow instructions. Driving doesn’t have to be such a struggle between parents and teens if there is communication and understanding.
What can be done in the future for teen drivers?
Better technology will continue to influence driving safety as the years pass. Teens probably won’t like these developments, but later, they will be thanking their parents for wanting to keep tabs on them.
Apps that warn kids about dangers ahead and parental controls that can disallow where a car is able to drive are entirely possible in the future. Perhaps an extension on the Famisafe app will stop a vehicle from starting when the key goes in the ignition if the car is out of the geographical zone the parent allowed for.
Technology will make things easier and safer for our youth in the future. There are even driverless cars that are being talked about as options to increase safety and efficiency on the road. Whatever you feel about innovations like those, safety solutions are a great thing for families everywhere.
Shawn Laib writes and researches for the auto insurance comparison site, AutoInsurance.org. He wants to help young drivers and their families through the struggles of learning how to drive and stay safe on the road.
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