Ah, to be 16 again. The freedom that comes with that age is the greatest thing that can happen to a kid. Celebrate the birthday, make a side-trip to the DMV, and before you know it you have your own set of keys and an official, government-issued piece of identification -- aka a driver's license.
Teen-age drivers all over the United States are now facing a new test by being constantly watched. An array of new "black box" devices for cars is on the market, all in an effort to make roads safer and teen-agers better drivers. See how it works, tonight on "Tech Live."
Remember the people around you when you first got behind the wheel? As happy as your parents were to give up carpool duties, new fears took over, such as worrying and wondering while their teen-ager is out on the open road. Teen-age drivers may be the butt of many jokes, but the concerns are real.
According to the
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the Highway Loss Data Institute, teen drivers have the highest crash risk of any age group, and 16-year-olds are the worst.
According to findings from the groups, crashes involving 16-year-olds involve driver error more often than crashes involving any other age group. To address these statistics, a few companies are selling products they hope will help teen-ager drivers and the public at large.
Road Safety International makes SafeForce, a computer that records every second of driving. Once installed in a car, the black box requires a special key to start the vehicle. When the kids get home, parents can check their time behind the wheel.
Road Safety CEO Larry Selditz says the computer can keep track of it all, including "whether the teen is wearing a seatbelt, whether they're speeding, the engine RPM of the vehicle, whether they're hard cornering, hard braking."
Mark Evans installed the device in the car of his 17-year-old son, Ryan, simply for peace of mind.
"The minute they round the corner you had no idea how they were using the car, or misusing the car," he says, "The black box monitors a few areas of concern."
It was that concern that prompted the head of Davis Industries to make a similar device back in 1994. The system, known as Drive Right, was a way for him to keep track of his teen-age daughters behind the wheel. Sales manager Russ Heilig says part of the strength of Drive Right is that you can't miss it.
"As soon as you know that something is watching you, you will always do better," Heilig says. "When you or I see a cop on the road, without even knowing how fast you're going, you automatically slow down because someone is watching. The Drive Right always pays attention."
Drive Right monitors speed, acceleration, and deceleration, catching any quick stops. Heilig says the company often hears from surprised customers who can't believe how well their loved-ones are driving.
In tests, Road Safety International reports seeing improved driving in the first two days to two weeks. Both the Drive Right and SafeForce devices will be adding GPS capabilities in the near future.
But despite the success stories, not everyone loves having the device in the car.
"At first I thought I really didn't need it," Ryan Evans says. "It just feels like my mom would he right next to me telling me what I'm doing wrong." His friends weren't too keen on the idea, either. But Ryan admits he's more careful now because he knows his parents are keeping track of his driving.
