Young Drivers Avoid Accidents with Hi-Tech Tools

Built-in Cameras, Ford's MyKey and Tiwi Onboard System Help Teens

Sep 22, 2009

Young drivers may benefit from technology to aid in safer driving, along with sound judgment, parental involvement, driver education classes and more supervision.

Obtaining a driver's license is both exciting and potentially dangerous for a young teen.

Statistics from several sources indicate that teen drivers are more accident-prone.

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), 16-year-olds get into accidents almost six times more often than drivers between the age of 30 and 59. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety also found that 41% of fatal accidents involving teenage drivers occurred between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. The risk of drunken-driving fatalities also soars at night.

There are some options afforded by technology, to help keep young drivers safe on the road.

American Family Insurance has a Teen Safe Driver Program which makes use of technology to help young drivers. A camera installed on the windshield behind the rear view mirror captures video from the roadway in front of the vehicle and from the interior of the vehicle. It also records audio from the passenger compartment. The device saves data only if it detects major gravitational force changes such as those caused by rapid acceleration, fast and sudden braking or erratic steering.

Ford's MyKey uses Technology to Control Speed Among Young Drivers

Ford's MyKey lets parents configure one key as the teen's. When the car is started with MyKey, maximum speed can be limited to 80 mph, and chimes can be set to sound at 45 mph, 55 mph and 65 mph. A chime sounds and the audio system is rendered ineffective, until the driver and passenger put their seat belts on. MyKey will become standard on most Ford models and is already available on Taurus, Focus and Escape SUV, among a few others.

Tiwi Onboard System Encourages Teens Not to be Distracted while Driving

Todd Follmer developed the "Tiwi" onboard system to alert teenagers of distractions and conditions while also notifying parents of their children's situations. Tiwi was used in an independent study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), which said, "electronic monitoring of teenage drivers can reduce risky behavior" and that "parent participation in the monitoring process is key to successful behavioral modification."

Technology is helpful in mitigating some effects of inexperienced driving, but its no substitute for sound judgment, following rules and avoiding driving under the influence. Parental involvement, driver education classes by the young driver, along with several hours of supervised driving are some other ways to ensure road safety and peace of mind.