There’s no scarier thought than your teen driving! It’s normal to want to monitor your teen as they venture out into the driving world. Here’s your guide to tracking your teenage driver.
Why Should I Track My Teenage Driver?
We’re glad you asked! Tracking your teen’s whereabouts when they’re driving is a way to gain insight into how they drive, and where they’re going, and it gives you peace of mind. Here are different factors to consider if you’re on the fence about tracking your teenage driver.
Safety
The first rule of driving is safety first! Monitoring your teenage driver via a tracking app enables you to monitor their driving habits. When you know their driving habits, you can give them tips to help them stay safe on the road, such as driving practices they should avoid.
Location Awareness
Tracking your teenager is easy when you know exactly where they are. You no longer have to wait for them to respond to your text or return your call to find out where they are. Tracking apps disclose their location in real time so you always know where they are. Your teen’s location is essential information in case of emergency.
Accident Alerts
Roads and highways can be scary and unpredictable places. With a tracking app, you have location data and receive alerts in the event an accident occurs. You have all the information you need to send help to their location.
Roadside Assistance
Some driver tracking apps have a roadside assistance feature that allows the driver to call for help if they’re experiencing car trouble, such as a flat tire or running out of gas. The roadside assistance feature allows your teen to request help from the app.
Speed Monitoring
It’s not uncommon for teenagers to want to speed. Adult drivers also speed. One way to counter speeding is by using an app that allows you to set speed limit alerts. These alerts will let you know when your teenage driver exceeds the speed limit.
Use Geo-Fencing
When you use a tracking app, you can create virtual boundaries, known as geo-fences, around certain areas, such as school and work for your teenager. If they drive outside of the boundaries you create, you will receive an alert.
Driving Behavior Reports
Receiving driving behavior reports is a great way to keep up with your teen and learn their driving techniques. These reports show different driving activities, such as the stops they make, the amount of time they are in a specific location, and their driving patterns. You can use this information to help them develop safe driving habits to become a better, more responsible driver.
Different Tools To Monitor Your Teenage Driver
Monitoring your teenage driver is beneficial for you and your teen. Aside from safety and peace of mind, there are other tools that can contribute to making your teenager a better driver.
Car Monitoring Systems
Car monitoring systems provide you with real-time information regarding how fast your teen is driving, their location, and their driving behavior. Using a car monitoring app allows you to intervene when you notice your teenager engaging in risky driving behavior. You can also use these monitoring systems to enforce different driving rules and limits.
Dashboard Cameras
You can also use dashboard cameras (dashboard cams). Dashboard cameras can be used as a teaching tool and used to determine your teen driver’s behavior when they’re behind the wheel. Dash cams are also great to use as evidence in case of an accident. When you see driving behaviors that you aren’t satisfied with, the dash cam can serve as a teaching tool to improve your teenage driver’s driving skills and responsibilities.
On the upside of things, you can install a dash cam in your teen’s car to deter risky behavior. If your teenager knows they’re being recorded, they won’t likely engage in things that they shouldn’t be doing.
Third-Party Devices
Most auto insurance providers have an app you can install on your smartphone and a device that plugs into the vehicle you want to track. Each third-party device is different. Depending on your auto insurance carrier, different options will be available, so choose the ones that suit your needs. Using third-party devices provided by your auto insurance can reduce your insurance premiums!
How to Choose a Driving Tracking App
As a parent, the thought of your teenager growing up and driving comes sooner than later. You want to ensure they experience the joys in life, including driving, and that they remain safe. Choosing a driving tracking app isn’t difficult, but there are different factors you must consider.
Understanding Your Needs
Before you choose a driver monitoring and tracking app, you need to understand what you need. Think of the features that are the most important to you. For example, you may prefer an app that provides real-time location tracking over an app that can only provide driving behavior alerts. You may be looking for an app that has a variety of features. There aren’t any wrong answers here. You need to find an app that gives you peace of mind.
Safety Features
Safety is likely the primary reason you’re deciding to get a tracking app, so make sure the app you choose has the safety features you need. A few common safety features these apps have include, but are not limited to:
- Location tracking
- Driving behavior monitoring
- Accident alerts
- Roadside assistance
Location tracking – this is a feature that provides accurate location updates in real-time so you always know where your teen is.
Driving behavior monitoring – with driving behavior monitoring, you can track your teen’s speed, phone distraction, acceleration, and hard braking. This feature is great to use as a learning tool to help your teenager become a better driver.
Accident alerts – if you have accident alerts set on a driver tracking app, you are automatically notified if your teen is involved in an accident. Pairing this feature with the real-time location tracker gives you the precise location of your teen so you can send help.
Roadside assistance – roadside assistance is always a great feature to have, especially when it comes to having peace of mind. Some tracking apps have 24/7 roadside assistance, giving your teenager access to help, such as a tow truck or locksmith whenever they need it.
Privacy and Consent
It is legal to install a tracking device on a registered vehicle that is in your name in the U.S. However, it’s recommended that you ask for the minor’s consent before installing the device. Many driving tracking device apps allow your teenager to share their real-time location with you, but most apps will state that respecting their privacy is essential.
Apps That Allow You to Track Your Teenage Driver
It’s normal for you to be worried about your kid hitting the road without you for the first time. As your child becomes more independent, they’ll want to start doing a lot more things on their own. As soon as your teenager receives their official driver’s license, they’ll want to explore the world!
While you may enjoy nothing more than for your child to grow into a responsible driver, the fact that they’re on the road with other drivers can be nerve-wracking. Using a vehicle tracking device can help ease your mind and add an extra layer of security while they’re driving.
Thanks to advanced technology, you can track your teen’s whereabouts and keep an eye on them without being by their side every moment. Finding the best tracking app for your teenage driver can be overwhelming because there are a lot of different apps available, so we’ve listed different apps to help you get started.
TrueMotion Family Safe Driving
TrueMotion Family Safe Driving is a free app that tracks driving habits and different capabilities for each driver you add. Tracking features of this app include aggressive handling, speeding, phone use while operating a motor vehicle, texting, and other aggressive or distracted driving behaviors.
This tracking app allows you to turn responsible driving into friendly competition by ranking the drivers listed on the app. You can download this app on the App Store for iPhones or Google Play for Android phones.
RoadReady
You can use the RoadReady app as a training tool or a monitoring device to ensure your teen is staying safe on the road. A lot of parents use RoadReady to log the necessary driving hours that their state requires for a teenager to receive their driver’s license. As time progresses, this driving monitoring app gives parents suggestions on how their teen can improve their driving skills. This app can be found in the App Store and on Google Play.
MamaBear
MamaBear is another driver-monitoring app that monitors texting and other driving distractions while driving. If your teenager engages in any type of distracted driving behavior, the app will notify you. The MamaBear app also allows you to set speed limits. If your teen driver exceeds the speed limit(s) you set, you will be notified. You will also receive arrival and departure notifications to ensure your teen makes it to and from their destination. MamaBear is available for iPhone and Android phones.
Life360
Life360 is a free app, but there is also a paid version of the app. This driver monitoring app has a Driver Protect plan that is $7.99 per month. This popular monitoring app provides a complete driving report that includes speed reports, risky behavior, hard or excessive braking, and acceleration. There is also a crash detection feature that alerts you in the event your teen is involved in an accident, even if it’s a fender bender. Individuals who use this app can share their location. Life 360 is available for iPhone and Android phones.
Automatic
Automatic is another driving monitor app that helps teenage and adult drivers become better, safer drivers. This app features a driving score that keeps track of driving habits and other information. You can customize the dashboard and keep track of your driving habits, making it easier to improve your driving skills.
Crash detection and location monitoring are other features this app offers. Automatic requires you to install an adapter to the ODB (onboard diagnostics) port. The ODB port This app can integrate with other apps and is available for iPhone and Android users.
Your teenager is growing up! The thought of your teenager driving can be scary, but these apps can give you peace of mind. Talk with your teen about safe driving practices to help them develop awesome driving habits and stay safe while traveling on the road. Happy driving!