New Devices Allow Parents to Track Teenagers' Cars
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Comment| Wednesday, February 21st, 2007 | Robert Seith | CWK Producer |
“This is not about trust, it’s about safety, it’s about reassurance. And it is a way for a child to prove that they did it right.”
– Robin Kirby, Ph.D., Clinical Psychologist
A 300-dollar handheld device… linked by satellite…
It can show a parent…
- where their child went,
- how fast their teen drove,
- and when they got there.
“I think it’s an invasion of privacy personally,” says 16-year-old Zach.
“I’d be really angry if my parents put a satellite in my car because it’s like an invasion of privacy and they should trust me,” says Sara, age 17.
“I don’t want my parents all in my business, like tracking everything I do,” says 16-year-old Chris.
But tracking teens on the road is becoming big business.
At least a dozen companies around the country now sell tracking devices. In part, it’s in response to parents, who fear today’s crowded roads and high speeds.
“It’s just very hazardous,” says Al Gomez, a father of five. “I think it’s much more hazardous than when I was a kid, or even 10 years ago.”
Teenagers may complain such devices are a violation of privacy, and of trust. But psychologist Robin Kirby, Ph,D., says parents should tell their kids: “I trust you to be a perfect teenagers. That means you’re going to mess up, you’re going to make mistakes. You’re going to be influenced by your peers sometimes.”
”No doubt,” says Zach, “I know plenty of kids that do stuff their parents wouldn’t want them to do… in their cars, and out of their cars.”
Experts say kids may not be happy having a satellite-tracking device on their car. But parents can explain that it’s only temporary - and will be removed once they’ve proven they can drive responsibly.
“It’s time for us as parents to step up to the plate,” says Dr. Kirby, “and be not likable for a minute. It’s not my job to make my child like me. It’s my job to keep my child safe and alive.”
Tips for Parents
- As a parent, think about using a satellite device as a way of gradually ‘letting out the leash’. Just like you would watch your toddler the first time they play in the back yard, parents should watch their teen the first year or two that they’re driving. (Robin Kirby, Ph.D., Psychologist)
- Realize that tracking a child’s car doesn’t guarantee you know where they are. A motivated child will get around the device - by having friends take them to places you may forbid. Building responsibility and trustworthiness in your child is still far more effective than electronic monitoring. (Betsy Gard, Ph.D., Psychologist)
- If you discover you child has broken rules, by either disabling the device, speeding, or going where they’re not supposed to, one of the most effective consequences is to take their keys for a certain period of time. Make sure you stand behind your rules. (Robin Kirby, Ph.D., Psychologist)
References
- Safe Teen Driving Club
- Safe America Foundation
- National Safety Council
