“Numerous studies show that teens whose parents set stipulations, paying attention to their activities in a helpful, supportive way, are about half as likely to be involved in a car crash.”
In this blog post, PocketFinder is proud to offer “Pro Parenting Tips” and constructive conversation points surrounding driving safety and positively introducing the The PocketFinder Teen Driver to your teen.
Numerous studies show that teens whose parents set stipulations, paying attention to their activities in a helpful, supportive way, are about half as likely to be involved in a car crash. Setting the example as the parent while you are behind the wheel (buckling up, no cell phone, music appropriate volume) and having them drive in various conditions (rain, traffic, open road) to sharpen skills, are ways you can help your teen driver while in the car with them. It helps set a foundation of building confidence when they drive safely.
But, they are growing up and doing a lot on their own. Despite this newfound freedom, they still need help with plenty of what life throws at them. As their parents, it’s normal to want to be there for them in every way. With teen drivers in our own families, PocketFinder is excited we can directly help protect and educate them during those first 4 critical driving years.
With the PocketFinder Teen Driver, the most important aspect is that in an emergency you know exactly where they are. You do not have to wait for them or emergency services to contact you possibly hours later. With the Speed, Zone, and Driver Behavior alerts going directly to your phone, you take any peer pressure heat, not them.
On top of all these benefits, the in-vehicle “beep” for your teen driver utilizes science and technology that encourages an immediate refocus and promotes accelerated learning that is supported by the foundation you have already set.
“The Talk”
As parents, it is common knowledge that important conversations run the risk of turning into lectures. In this instance, this important talk revolves around your teen driver who is not just older, but is now entrusted to drive a machine that can easily injure someone or worse (see the stats on our website). Part of life is setting terms to ensure the safety of everyone.
We recommend the approach of a “formal” agreement”. It doesn’t mean drafting something for them to sign - but an “adult” agreement between you that sets a foundation for responsibility. They see adults driving bad; this is a way to ensure they never become them.
- After making a formal agreement and activating the unit and setting up the features, schedule the initial calibration drive in their vehicle with you as the driver and them as passenger. Then go for a test drive and see how many beeps you get!
- Once back home, review the stats on our website with your teen and compare them with the alerts you received (if any). These numbers have been this big for a decade. It can be a bit scary, but with just a few good behaviors locked in place, the risk dramatically shifts in their favor.
- Show them all the data the app provides. Let them see where their car is parked and your driving history. Sometimes other teens can pressure each other to speed or race or go places they shouldn’t. Show them the app of your history driving the car that shows location, route and speed. “If you’re ever pressured, we want you to blame us.”
- Express your love for them and the passengers they will be driving. Encourage them to alert you if they are ever a passenger and the driver is not driving safely. Set a plan that allows for alternate rides so they can ensure they never become a statistic.
- While the goal is to drive safely because it’s what’s right, it never hurts to provide an incentive for good driving. Let them know how proud you are of them for how seriously they have taken driving up to this point. The news is filled with stories of horrific crashes; they are making sure there is one less that flashes on our screens.
Lastly, it’s important to remember this is not about perfection. It’s about their desire to be a safe driver for themselves and others. It shows they are willing to do their part for their community.
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