Tracking Teen Drivers

Say someone wanted to know where there kids drove and maybe how fast they drove, what would be the best way to do this economically? For the sake of this hypothetical discussion, the vehicle is pre-OBDII .

Every cell phone has GPS and verizon has an app called "Family Tracker" that you can use to find out where your kids get good weed.

I know this is non-contributory to the conversation, but I've never understood this. Either you trust your kids or you don't, and if you don't, it seems like there's better ways to address that issue rather than putting some sort of tracking device in either their phone or their car.

Maybe I'll have a clearer picture when my son hits his teenage years.

'trust but verify?'

ReverendDexter wrote: I know this is non-contributory to the conversation, but I've never understood this. Either you trust your kids or you don't, and if you don't, it seems like there's better ways to address that issue rather than putting some sort of tracking device in either their phone or their car.

+1

If you don't trust him/her, don't let them behind the wheel.

Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: Every cell phone has GPS and verizon has an app called "Family Tracker" that you can use to find out where your kids get good weed.

Ok, I had to LOL at this apparently their going to the right place if it's good hahaha

But yeah, there are apps that have tracking things on them. Although my parents didn't do this to me, I guess they trust me. They figured if I was going to speed, get pulled over and go somewhere stupid it was my own dumb fault and I should learn from it. I never did any of those things, I actually focused on the driving and know how to drive, i'm not like all that this "generation" seems to act and be like........well the speeding...I got one

As long as he doesn't come home with a yellow Fiat door, he should be fine!

In reply to madmallard:

exactly.

ReverendDexter wrote: I know this is non-contributory to the conversation, but I've never understood this. Either you trust your kids or you don't, and if you don't, it seems like there's better ways to address that issue rather than putting some sort of tracking device in either their phone or their car. Maybe I'll have a clearer picture when my son hits his teenage years.

Ask all the parents of kids killed in car crashes if they trusted their kids. Mine trusted me and shouldn't have. Trust is earned. Once my kids earn that trust by proving that they are driving responsibly, I'll stop tracking them. In general I trust them individually. But they are twins, twins that fight a lot. They'll be driving together quite a bit. This can be life or death, so if someone thinks I'm wrong for doing this, I couldn't care less. I consider it my job for the next couple years to keep my boys alive, and I'm going to do everything I can to make sure that happens. They've had the best driver training I can afford, and they'll go to another on-track driving course this summer, amongst other things. I'd prefer this thread stick to answering my question instead of making moral judgements.

EDIT: Just read the OP's subsequent post about making this a temporary item. I don't think there's any hope of asking a question like this without getting a few philosophical ponderments along with the requested info, but in any case I'd like to make it clear that it's not my intention to pass any judgement on this one way or the other...

Playing devil's advocate...

I tend to think of "trust but verify" as a business thing. If money's at stake you need to do due diligence to make sure that you don't get taken, but you can't spend an undue amount of time on it or it's a waste.

I see two ways for the GPS thing to go. My first thought was that the kid doesn't know. Then you at some point face the idea that they went someplace/did something you didn't like, and you have to decide whether it's worth letting them know that you trust them so little as to track their movements.

But I'm guessing this app isn't hidden, and that they'll know you're tracking them. In that case, it isn't "trust but verify" at all; they will see the GPS tracking as proof of absence of trust. The fact that they know they've got a tracking device on them may keep them from doing certain things, but it won't be their decision. They will not exercise autonomy, because you have them on a virtual leash.

These are the issues that occur to me, in any case. Before I start wandering off into "forgetting" the phone...

^Gee, what to do if my parents stick a tracking device in my car, and I want to go somewhere I don't want to know about?

Guess I'm hosed since none of my friends have cars.

I like the 'trust but verify', my parents did that with me when I was a kid. I also got the lecture before I could ever drive that once I left the driveway I was responsible for my actions, and any tickets, accidents, etc, I could expect to loose my license, and my parents weren't to be trifled with.

Having that responsibility heaped on you makes you a much more careful and attentive 16 year old. I also wasn't allowed to drive my younger brother around for much the same reason you are worried about. I had to earn the ability to do that with a year of safe driving, and even then I was only allowed to take him around town.

Honestly a tracking device would have told them exactly where I said I was going, I never lied about that, I just never told them what I was doing once I was there.

This coming from a high school senior class president, eagle scout, smartest guy (straight A) in his class (I finished behind a few girls) who incidentally picked up his best 2 friends his first night with a car at 16 y/o, drove to a senior's house and picked up 30 pack of Budweiser (no I didn't drive drunk). Don't ever implicitly trust a 16 year old. The whole I was responsible for my actions bit made me be responsible in my wrecklessness...

In reply to bravenrace:

Good on you. As has already been noted, I'd use the tracking features on the cell phones if you can. If you want to double up, get tracking system installed in the car.

If you really want to try to keep them sane in the car, I'd tell them I was tracking them and make it a condition of driving.

In reply to Brett_Murphy:

Okay, I have the most simplistic phone you can possibly have. As such, I have no idea how tracking through a cell phone would work. Can you explain?

I can't; I have a non-gps cell phone as well. I know of people who use their phones as dataloggers on the track and have heard of apps like "Family Tracker" that will let you know where people in your family are in the mall, etc.

A while back Autozone used to sell a monitor that would plug into the OBDII port. Not sure how good it was especially if the kid sees it & unplugs it.

bravenrace wrote: Okay, I have the most simplistic phone you can possibly have. As such, I have no idea how tracking through a cell phone would work. Can you explain?

You could upgrade your phone... (you didn't say how can I track him for free).

Ofcourse - if you upgrade your phone - then people can track YOU.

If I were going to, this is how I'd do it.

I don't like monthly fees, and don't really feel the need to hover over a computer monitor every time junior goes driving. However, it would be nice to be able to see what's happening every once in a while. This thing looks like that solution to me.

I'd probably rather trade cars with the neighbor and play secret agent for an afternoon. Certainly a cheaper option.

It's the parents job to know where and what their kids are doing. The kids won't like it, but the ones that like it the least will be the ones not going where they said.

In reply to Tom Heath:

Tom, Do you have any experience with this item? Looks like it might be just what I'm looking for. Jim

carguy123 wrote: It's the parents job to know where and what their kids are doing. The kids won't like it, but the ones that like it the least will be the ones not going where they said.

Thank you. I thought I was alone on this. If my kids don't do anything wrong, then they won't get in trouble with me. If they do, then they deserve whatever course of action I take, and I won't feel at all guilty about it. We've had a large increase in teen deaths in the last year or two. My friend lost both of her kids in an accident right out front of their house. The cause? Another teen in an old Mach I driving 90 in a 35 zone. That's not going to be my kid.

Ok, I know I'm a kid so I probably won't be listened to, but here's what I think anyway (don't you love the internet?):

1. As mentioned before by others, if you don't trust your kid enough to let them drive around, please don't let them drive. If they can't make good enough decisions to keep out of trouble around town, they have no business operating a two-ton weapon. Please don't put somebody that irresponsible on the road with me.

2. Most of the tracking systems are hit-and-miss (my friends have all kinds of different crap installed in their cars). They're inaccurate, expensive, laggy, etc. I've also seen many of them (albeit improperly installed) disable cars in the student parking lot, too. I can't count how many times I've been under the dash of somebody's car trying to get it started for them.

3. I don't mean to offend anyone, but it doesn't sound like you're too great with technology. You're kids will probably have to help you set it up. If you were told to build your prison, wouldn't you put in a back door?

4. Kids are smart. We'll figure out a way around whatever you put in/on/around our cars. And if we don't figure out how to disable it, we'll fool it. I know a girl that sticks her phone in a bush near the movie theater whenever she goes across the street for dinner/ice cream/ etc. because her parents track it. We're also big fans of car-pooling, because gas is so expensive.

5. I'd hope that you and your children have a good relationship. What will happen to that when they find a tracking device in their car (assuming you haven't told them)? I know you're the parent and your only duty is to keep them safe, not to be their friend. But, if they see how little you trust them, they'll lose trust in you, too. Would you ask advice from someone who was so insecure about the way they raised you that they installed tracking equipment in your car?

I don't mean to be a jerk or anything, but good luck trying to track your teenager. I think you'll find it's an exercise in futility.

One thing- If you're paying for the car, then I don't have an issue with you tracking it. Just make the tracking device known. Not only will this help the kids respect your car, it will also provide an incentive for them to become independent and buy their own cars.

Or to ride around in their friends' cars. Let's hope that those drivers are safe!

In reply to Tom Suddard:

Good words here. Especially 3 and 4. Even the techno-stupid people I knew in high school were easily able to outsmart their parents anytime technology was involved. Also I think you should let the teens know about it. Finding out you were being watched when you didn't think so feels very intrusive, wheras knowing ahead of time that they are being watched may keep them from doing stupid things in the first place, at least in their car. I'd also like to add a number 6 to Tom's list- Teenagers will do stupid things no matter how helicoptery you are as a parent. That's how they learn. When I was a teen i did probobly the least amount of stupid things of all of my friends (I never even drank. not even once), and I still did way too many dangerous, stupid things. Would I have learned if my parents just told me the information instead of me learning it on my own? Not near as much. Teenagers don't like to listen to adults.

When I was 16, I had already finished up with high school, so I pretty much did what I wanted to do (long story here, I'll get into it another time if you like). I'd hang out with my pot smoking car guy buddies and just chill out. I didn't smoke, I had no desire. The worst thing I ever did was drive them to the store for munchie food.

One of my friends would come over at 3 in the morning, and we'd just go work on his car. I learned how to port cylinder heads in his apartment, and learned a whole lot about parting out cars for cash.

What I'm getting at is that I did pretty much the wrong things and turned out okay. Sure, I'm well underemployed now, but that stems from what caused point number one above.

What I would do is simply install an alarm in the car that can be tracked. Let him/her know about it. Install one in ALL of the daily drivers and enjoy lower insurance rates. Check up only in case of emergency (long missed curfew with now contact, supposed to be at school but never showed up and they aren't answering their phones).

Heck, go all government and say it's for their safety. Whatever you do, don't hide it.

i'm not a parent. But if/when i become one, there will be no operation of a vehicle i own without the use of one of these things. If I put gas in, make payments for, or provide any insurance, or in any way maintain the vehicle with any of my direct finances, it will be -mine-, not theirs, to be monitored at my whim.

Its not about trust at that point, its about accepting your own responsibility as the parent.

The technology being available means there's no excuse not to use it and take the steps to be aware of your child.

This doesn't mean I need to control their activity, but not being aware of how your kid drives when you're not around WHEN YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO FIND OUT, and then using that information to make judgements on how to treat your child, it just strikes me as grossly negligent.

but what do i know, i'm not a parent. ;p