The first year of driving is the most risky, especially nights and weekends, and with passengers in the car the accident rate goes up 300 percent, said Sharon Fife, president of D&D Driving School in Kettering.
Fife said there are apps available for cell phones to prevent teens from texting when they drive. When a car is in motion, the app won’t let a driver use their phone.
AT&T has the DriveMode app that when enabled will send automatic replies to anyone who texts the recipient’s phone. It also silences all calls, texts and emails.
The free DriveSafe Mode app is available for iPhones. It will email a parent if the driver’s phone is in use and their vehicle is in motion. Textecution for Android devices will disable texting while driving, but it’s pricey at $29.99.
“There are also units you actually plug into the car that monitors the person’s driving,” Fife said.
Safe Watch Solutions, MotoSafety, Car Checkup, and more can be purchased online, most require consumers to pay a monthly fee.
D&D driving school is in the process of partnering with one device maker, Tag-N-Go. Fife said for about $10 a month the app will give your teen driver a driving grade, and an in-depth look at how safe they really area behind the wheel.
“It will focus on if they are driving too fast. It actually knows the speed limits of the areas they are driving in and parents can log on and watch their teen’s driving real time,” Fife said.
But will younger drivers balk at the ever watchful eye?
Oakwood student, 16-year-old Marianna Mayer, said it doesn’t bother her.
“My parents actually have one of the apps and they turn it on and check to make sure everything is good. They love all of the technology stuff and they think they are the cool parents,” Mayer said.
She said she’ll be more likely to follow the speed limit and take other safety precautions because she knows her mom and dad have a high tech eye on her.
“They are going to keep track of it no matter what so this just makes it easier for them. And I don’t have to report to them I was going down this street and I was going this fast,” Mayer said.