There is now a way to know where your teen driver is at all times.
Teensurance is a tracking device which uses G.P.S. technology not only to monitor a driver’s location, but also indicates how fast he is driving. The parent receives an e-mail or text message alerts if the driver exceeds preset limits, like driving a certain miles from home or faster than 60 miles an hour. This gadget is sold by Safeco for $14.99 a month.
There is also Web site to view satellite images showing the location of the car. A roadside assistance feature unlocks the car’s doors, if needed.
A Safeco rival, A.I.G., offers MobileTeenGPS, a similar product that sells for $19.99 a month.
Will this be an issue for privacy advocates? Some feel the technology will spread because it lets parents keep tabs on their teenagers and helps insurers better manage their risk.
“If history is any guide, it will be a pleasant option for a few people at first and then it will become almost impossible not to have it because of the discounts,” said James Katz, director of the Center for Mobile Communications Studies at Rutgers University.
(The New York Times, 9/30/07)
Read Original Article
