The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducted an interesting experiment in 2009 that tested the effectiveness of various in-vehicle monitoring systems on teen drivers. The study monitored the driving habits of 84 teen drivers with different types of in-vehicle technology to determine which ones had the greatest effect on both the teen drivers and their parents.

IIHS installed their own monitoring equipment in the study vehicles that recorded when drivers braked sharply or accelerated suddenly, didn’t use belts, and exceeded speed limits. The monitors used GPS and a satellite modem to transmit the data to a central processing facility and the data was made available for parents to review. In addition to its own monitoring systems, IIHS also installed different types of in-vehicle monitoring that are commercially available to parents of teen drivers. The 84 subjects were randomly assigned into four groups:

"Drivers in groups 1 and 2 heard audible alerts for risky maneuvers. A short, low-pitched buzz sounded for sudden braking and acceleration. A continuous low-pitched buzz sounded when the belt wasn’t buckled and stopped only when it was fastened. Speeding triggered a single beep at 2.5 mph over the posted limit, followed by continuous beeps at increasing pitch and frequency when the teenage drivers exceeded the limit by more than 10 mph.” For drivers in group 1, the information was immediately recorded and transmitted to the parents for review. The drivers in group 2 had the opportunity to correct their behavior and, if corrected within 20 seconds, prevent a report from being sent to their parents.

There were no in-vehicle alerts for drivers in group 3, just website notification. Group 4, the control group, was monitored but had no alerts or web notification.

The different types of monitoring systems included:

• Basic systems: CarChip Pro – http://www.carchip.com/Products/8226.asp, CarChipPro is essentially a black box that plugs into the car’s diagnostic recorder. The system can record speed, mileage, and other data. Once the information is downloaded, it provides parents with a history of the teen's driving. The system may also be set to turn into an alarm if certain speeds are reached or if the driver is braking too hard. The system is a tool to help discuss a teen's driving habits by allowing parents to show them the facts, and how to correct their driving behavior.



• GPS-based systems: Inthinc’s Tiwi - http://www.inthinc.com/products/tiwifamily This system monitors drivers in real-time by providing in-vehicle, verbal feedback to the driver when they are speeding, not wearing their seat belt or driving aggressively. Also, parents can be notified immediately of unsafe driving behavior (through text, voicemail or email) and all info is reported through an Internet-based portal for later review and discussion between parent and teen. This system gives teens a chance to correct their behavior before their parents are notified.



• Video systems: DriveCam: Teen Safe Driver Program package – http://www.drivecam.com/, This in-car camera system records "risky driving behavior" and sends them to DriveCam for third-party assessment of a teen driver's skills. The reports are then sent to parents, who can discuss the driving behavior with their teen.



• Smart keys: MyKey – http://media.ford.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=29172, First seen on the 2010 Ford Focus, the MyKey system is designed to help parents set certain limitations on their Ford vehicles for when their teens are driving. With the configurable key, this system is designed for parents who share their cars with teen drivers. Ford has announced that this technology will be available in all Ford vehicles beginning in 2012. The key features are:
  
  
  
  • Do Not Disturb, prevents use of cell phone and texting while the car is in motion.
  
  
  • Speed Control, limiting the top speed of the Ford vehicle to 80 mph.
  
  
  • Volume control, which allows parents to set a maximum volume level for the car's radio.
  
  
  • Beltminder, an alarm system that mutes the radio and plays a chime every 6 seconds, every minute or every 5 minutes when the seatbelt is unbuckled.
  
  
  • Fuel reminder: alerts the teen that they need to refuel, when fuel is low.
  
  
  
  

The results of the study were as follows:

• Seat belts – Seat belt use was already at a 94% level when the study began but increased among all four groups when the drivers were faced with a continuous buzzing or chiming noise. This has been found to be effective among all age groups.



• Stops and starts – Sudden braking and rapid starts can indicate aggressive driving or inattention to the driving environment. Sudden stops and starts fell in all groups relative to the control group but was especially significant group 1 with immediate web notification to their parents. The effects were even greater among those whose parents received periodic report cards.



• Speeding – Speeding was the most prevalent risky behavior noted among all groups. Speeding up to ten mph over the posted speed limit fell among the groups with alerts in their vehicles but then started to rise over time. Speeding was only significantly reduced among the groups whose parents were notified or those who had a chance to correct the problem before parental notification.



• All risky behaviors – Risky behaviors declined most among the two groups with parental notification but were most noticeable among group 2, the ones who had a chance to correct their behavior before parental notification. Risky behavior was somewhat higher in group 1, apparently because it was too late to correct the behavior and their parents were going to be notified anyway.

Parents will want to consider the results of this study when choosing an in-vehicle monitoring device for their teen driver. More information on the study can be found at: http://www.iihs.org/externaldata/srdata/docs/sr4405.pdf

Labels: gps devices, in-vehicle technology, safe teen drivers, teen driver

How can teenagers get a potentially lifesaving message out to their friends and make some extra cash? One great way is to create a Public Service Announcement (PSA) on the importance of safe driving.

Thanks to an initiative started by Tracy Porter, Founder and Executive Director of Mothers Against Brain Injury, Inc. (MABII) and a partnership between the Allstate Foundation, teens from high schools in four counties in Northeast Florida have the opportunity to enter a contest to create a short video promoting the importance of safe driving and win a grand prize of $4,000 for the student creators and $4000 for their school in TV production equipment and computers. Not only that, the winning PSA will be shown on TV throughout the month of May. There are also runner-up prizes of $2000 and $1000 for the student creators and for their school in TV production equipment and computers. The prize money has been made available through a grant from the Allstate Foundation making this its fourth consecutive year of doing so. The deadline to enter is 9pm on April 19, 2011.


So which driving subject should you focus on? You can choose any one, a combination of a couple or all of these critical issues related to driving: speeding, seatbelts, teen passengers, cell phone talking /texting, or any other distractions. The message should be 20 seconds; short, simple to understand, directed to other teens, and thought provoking. This contest encourages teens to research the facts on teen driving safety, observe how teens drive and be decide what would be the best and most creative way to ignite a change of unsafe driving practices.

When it comes to judging, a panel of teens will assess which of the PSA's would most likely make them seriously consider changing their own driving habits when they drive or when they ride with another teen.

What makes this project so great is that it's about friends telling friends the facts with their own voice, in their own environment and in their own way. Unsafe driving and distractions do not have to be the norm. So many teens see themselves as great drivers, but their friends don't always agree. Tracy Porter, Founder of MABII says, "In the last four years of hosting this PSA contest, I have learned something surprising from teenagers; they are less fearful of death as a consequence of unsafe driving practices than they are of being hurt, noticeably scarred, changed physically, being responsible for hurting a friend, or family member. This is information that should be used to help educate and empower teens to create a message targeting their own demographic."

By changing the culture of what is acceptable among teen friends, lives can be saved and many tragedies avoided. All it takes are people to speak up and their voices to be heard. Driving safety is everyone’s business.

Learn more about the Allstate Foundation's Teen Safe Driver Grant.

To learn more about Mothers Against Brain Injury Inc., visit www.mabii.org

Labels: distracted driving, mabii, mothers against brain injury, psa contest, teen driver, teen driver safety

The government, organizations, parents and other teens themselves have been concerned about teen driving safety since they started issuing licenses. How could they not? Car crashes are the leading cause for teen deaths in the U.S. every year --- which is mind-boggling.

Ads for safety have existed for the longest time, urging teens to drive safely, to take caution, to think of others --- and though the number has dropped in recent years, the question is: why do teens still get involved in crashes? Are laws not enough to change teen behavior? Should the government, organizations, parents and other teens find other ways of keeping teen drivers safe?

If we're talking about fatal crashes by age, 69.5% represent teen drivers who are in the age range of 15-20, significantly higher than other ages. (http://www.theautoinsurance.com/grannies-v-teens-whos-scarier-on-the-road_2010-03-29/) In that percentage, there are more males, 25% have high blood alcohol levels, while 58% weren't wearing seatbelts.

Here's a select breakdown from AllState's teen driving survey last year (2009) to help shed the light on why teens are still getting into crashes: (To see the complete highlights of the survey, check: http://www.allstate.com/foundation/teen-driving/Shifting-Teen-Attitudes.aspx)

Texting is teen's biggest distraction behind the wheel.

• More than 49% of teens report texting as a distraction, up from 31% in 2005


• 82% of teens report using cell phones while driving, while 23% admit to drinking and driving


• More than 60% of teens worry about getting into a car accident, but still admit to practicing distracting or harmful actions while driving

Drunk driving is still a major concern, but it seems that cell phones are even more harmful for a teen driver's health. An 18% growth in texting while driving over the last 5 years shows us that, teens are more connected now, and they like to keep it that way --- even while driving. 1 in 3 teenagers have, according to surveys, admitted to texting while driving. Fortunately, laws are being put into place to eliminate this. Think about it: there have been laws against drunk driving, and that number's significantly lower than the ones for texting while driving, which means it's working.

Girls express a new need for speed.

• Nearly half (48%) of girls admit they are likely to speed more than 10 m.p.h. over the limit, versus 36% of boys


• 16% of girls describe their driving as aggressive, up from 9% in 2005

Teens are at the stage of chasing thrills --- simply because they haven't fully developed the part of the brain that urges them to think twice about risks. Surprisingly, matched with the statistic below, girls and boys make for a dangerous combination on the road, it seems.

Driving aggression and speeding among teen boys is decreasing.

• 13% of boys describe their driving as aggressive, down from 20% in 2005


• 19% of boys admit to speeding 10 m.p.h. or more over the speed limit, down from 25% in 2005


• Fewer boys (46%) report being in car crashes in 2009 compared to 58% in 2005

How do we define "aggression"? Though the numbers have dropped, it's not nearly low enough. Are parents or guardians allowing their teenage boys to storm off and take the car? Is it really outside their power to restrict angry teens from speeding off? Instead of asking how we could lessen teenage crashes, a better question could be: "How can we stop teens from driving when they are in an unstable emotional state?"

Teens still feel "it's them, not me" when it comes to aggressive driving.

• A majority of teens (65%) are confident in their own driving skills


• 77% of teens admit they have felt unsafe with another teen's driving


• 82% of teens want to be known as a safe/skilled driver


• Only 23% of teens agree that most teens are good drivers

This shows that, while teen drivers are confident in their own driving skills, other teens have concerns about their peers driving skills. If newly licensed drivers spend even an hour practicing their driving skills, we're likely to see teens who are confident not just in their own driving, but also believe other teen drivers are as good as they think they are. Which is where teen-oriented/teen-founded driving safety groups have focused when they discuss distracted driving or aggressive driving.

Fewer teens are willing to speak up in risky driving situations.

• Only 59% of teens will speak up if they are scared or uncomfortable as a passenger


• Girls are less likely to speak up than boys - 53% of girls reported they would say something about someone's driving, versus 66% of boys


• Fear of social rejection and being ignored top the list of reasons why teens don't speak up when they feel unsafe as a passenger.

This is common behavior: who would like to be picked on for their driving skills? Building confidence in teens to voice their concerns could help avoid crashes down the road. This comes with gaining experience through practicing in many different driving conditions.

Teens report safer driving practices than their parents.

• More teens (22%) consider parents in the car more distracting than having their friends in the car (14%)


• 92% of teens report wearing their seatbelt and only 88% report that their parents wear seatbelts


• 84% of teens signal when changing lanes while 76% report that their parents signal when changing lanes


• More than 80% of teens rate parents as their No. 1 driving influence, but are spending less behind-the-wheel time with their parents
  

Is there more pressure to drive better with parents in the car? Could trying to shape a teen's driving skill cause them to lose confidence and miss out on the important driving lessons? It seems so. Letting teens slowly gain driving skills on their own, and having a parent who practices driving safety may be the key.

Each day, laws and policies are being put into action to lessen teen crashes, but with this, teen driving behavior also changes, and keeping up with those changes could mean the difference between arriving at their destination, or getting into a car crash.

Sources:

Grannies vs Teens: Who's Scarier On The Road?

http://www.theautoinsurance.com/grannies-v-teens-whos-scarier-on-the-road_2010-03-29/

• Shifting Teen Attitudes: 2009 State of Teen Driving - http://www.allstate.com/foundation/teen-driving/Shifting-Teen-Attitudes.aspx

Labels: aggessive driver, aggressive driving, car crash, teen car crash, teen driver, teen vehicle crash

Garden State Sponsors First-in-the-Nation Bill

If you knew there was a teenager at the wheel of the car in front of you, would you drive any differently?

New Jersey is the first state in the nation to require new drivers ages 21 and younger to display identifying decals on their vehicles.

Gov. Jon Corzine signed the law recently, and it goes into effect next year.

According to motor vehicle officials, the decals will most likely be a small reflective rectangle attached to the front and rear license plates to help police enforce restrictions on probationary drivers.

Pam Fischer, director of the New Jersey Division of Highway Safety, said that police would use them to determine whether teens are violating the state driving curfew and passenger restrictions.

Authorities will not use the decals to target young drivers or pull them over without cause, she cautioned.

Ron Gesualdo, owner of Gene's Driving School in Matawan, said the decals are long overdue and will save lives.

"The parents are for it," he said. "The kids don't say anything, but you know what they're thinking."

The thinking amongst young people is that the decals will only mean more trouble for teenagers.

"That's going to mean police are going to be bothering us even more," said Tebvon Mcneil, 18, of Paterson. "They see that sticker on the car, they're just going to be pulling us over for no reason. Are there drugs in the car? That's the first thing they're going to think, because we're teenagers."

And not everyone thinks the new law will improve driver safety. Jennifer Collins, a 29-year-old Hamilton resident, pondered whether the stickers would distract other drivers who are seeking them out while driving.

"That really doesn't make any sense to me, honestly," she said.

So other drivers using the same car can remove them, Velcro is being considered to attach the decals.

"It will probably be nondescript and simple, and the public at large is probably not even going to notice it," Fischer said.

The decals were one of many new driving restrictions Corzine signed for young adults with probationary licenses, which allow them drive unsupervised under specific conditions.

Other restrictions include moving the driving curfew to 11 p.m. from midnight; allowing only one other young person in the car; and banning the use of cell phones, even hand-free ones.

"These restrictions are in place because they represent the things we know put teens at risk," Fischer said.

David Weinstein, spokesman for AAA Mid-Atlantic, said although Delaware and Connecticut have toyed with the idea, New Jersey is the first state to require the decal.

Dawn Hopkins, spokeswoman for the Delaware Department of Transportation, said they are contemplating offering residents a reflective orange magnet that says, in black, capital letters: "NOVICE DRIVER." The magnets would be voluntary.

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 61 percent of teenage passenger deaths in 2007 happened in vehicles driven by another teenager. Twenty percent of all passenger deaths occurred when a teenager was behind the wheel.

New Jersey's decal law was prompted by the driving death of a 16-year-old honor student in Morris County, Kyleigh D'Alessio, who perished in 2006 while riding in a car driven by a teenager with a probationary license.

"No issue is more important than protecting our children, so these efforts are essential to that," Corzine said. "We don't want to lose the beauty and the gifts that a Kyleigh could bring to all of us, and we need to take every step possible to make it something that doesn't occur in the future."

Did you know that courses are available to educate drivers on the rules of the road and the latest defensive driving techniques? Try one now!

Labels: GDL, graduated licensing, teen driver