Cell Phone Enabled GPS Tracking Device Created by Teen

At just 20 years old, Jonathan Fischer has created a Cell Phone GPS Teen Tracking Device which measures speed, curfew, and off-limit areas.

It works by having a black box installed in the vehicle. Anytime you speed or break other agreements it sends an annoying alert through the teen's cell phone.

Fischer began working on the device at 16 year of age after a local teen driver was killed behind the wheel due to speeding. He's won awards and even a hefty prize of $20,000 for his business plan.

The device is a pricey $250 to start and then $15 per month after. But a distinctive feature is in the GPS. Mapping lets the box know what the speed limit is on any given road, so if for example, you're going 10 miles over anywhere it will send the alert.

To learn more: www.livefastdriveslow.com.

Teensurance™ powered by Safeco

Safeco agents are now able to offer a $70 discount off the $169 Teensurance package for a low price of $99 to start. And the professional installation is free.

Teensurance is a great tool and program to help parents keep teen drivers safe. The GPS is installed under the dash and away from view to monitor things like speeding and location in real time, and sends alerts on things like curfew and driving out of "safe zones".

You even have free roadside assistance, up to 4 incidents per year and unlimited remote door unlock if the vehicle has automatic locking doors.

There's so many more features with this great system. We're always open to questions or you can find out more by going to www.teensurance.com.

Texting-While-Driving Ban Update

Even though Washington was the first state to pass laws about texing-while-driving it's yet that the law has been really enforced.

Only 2 tickets have been issued in Seattle Municiple Court since the ban took effect January 2008 to September 2008. Statewide, there were 58 citations and 61 warnings during that time which is only a small percentage of the 983,000 traffic stops troopers made total.

According to the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS), "Given that crash risk increases substantially with drivers' use of either hand-held or hands-free phones, bans on hand-held cellphones will not eliminate the problem entirely. The problem with laws prohibiting hands-free phones is that they are difficult to enforce."

There are only 4 other states that have followed suit with the texting-while-driving law: Washington, Alaska, Louisiana, Minnesota and New Jersey.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/transportation/379545_Texting18.html?source=rss

Q & A

A few frequently asked questions for parents of teen drivers like you...and maybe a couple you hadn't thought about! If you have additional questions, we'd be happy to answer them! Please e-mail us at info@sav-on.com or call one of our 6 locations at 1-888-867-2866.


What should parents consider when insuring teen drivers?

Parents should consider 3 factors when insuring their teen driver. First, they need to do everything they can to prevent their teen from causing an accident. Lack of education and experience are the leading factors in teen driver accidents. Parents need to give their teen as much training and experience behind the wheel as possible to keep them safe and avoid costly tickets and accidents. Second, parents need to make sure they are protected in case their teen causes an accident. Teens are 5 times more likely to cause an accident that can result in a lawsuit than experienced drivers. Good insurance coverage is a must for parents with teen drivers.
Third, parents need an agent that understands how to protect families with teen drivers and how to help them get the right protection at the lowest cost. This agent can find ways to save money while offering coverage that can protect them from lawsuits.

Why are insurance rates high for teen drivers?

Teen drivers are five times more likely to cause accidents than experienced drivers. The cost of these claims are on average 3 times higher as well. Insurance companies know this and have to charge higher rates to cover the higher risk of costly and more frequent accidents.

How can parents reduce the cost of insuring their teen driver?

First, parents need to understand that the rates are highest during the first three years they are licensed and if their teen gets a ticket or causes accidents their rates can triple. If parents do everything they can to make sure their teen drives safely, they will save a small fortune in rate increases due to tickets and accidents. If they have an agent that specializes in protecting families with teen drivers, that agent most likely knows what companies offer the lowest rates and can help them save by increasing deductibles and finding every discount possible, i.e. like a discount for good grades.

What should parents do to make sure they are protected in case their teen causes an accident?

When a parent adds a teen driver to their insurance policy, the chances of them being involved in a lawsuit increases dramatically. Insurance companies will only pay what their liability limit is on their policy. If the accident is serious enough, the parent’s assets are at risk. They will have to pay the difference between the liability limit and the amount awarded by the lawsuit. This is the most critical time when they need an agent that specializes in protecting families with teen drivers. This agent can review their coverage and offer the right liability limits to protect their assets.

How can parents reduce the likelihood of their teen causing an accident?

Education and experience is most important for safe driving. Unfortunately, new drivers are lacking this. It is up to the parent to give them as much structured practice time behind the wheel as needed to learn the most important driving skills and reactions. A home study driving course such as the Safe Teen Driver Guide is an excellent way to give the teen the necessary education and experience. Parents should also consider a GPS Teen Driver Monitoring System to make sure that their teen continues to drive safely while the parent is not in the car.

Many parents consider placing the teen on a separate policy. Is this a good idea?

No, this is not a good idea. As long as the teen is dependent on the parents, (they live in the household or the parent owns the car, even if the child is away at school ), they can be held liable for their teen’s mistakes. When you place a teen on a separate policy, it is very difficult to get adequate coverage for the teen because they are considered “high risk” and most high risk insurance companies will only provide lower limits than what teen drivers need. Since the teen cannot get adequate coverage, the parents can still be sued for their teen’s accidents. It also costs more to insure teens on separate policies. They are charged higher rates since they are insured by companies that insure higher risk drivers. When the teen is on their parents’ policy, they get multi-car discounts and are usually insured by preferred companies with lower rates.

What tools do you offer to parents to help them make their teens safer drivers?

Our agency offers many tools to help parents keep their teen drivers safe. First we have the Safe Teen Driver Guide. This is a 16 step home study driving course that parents can use to give their teens the education and most importantly, the experience they need to drive safely. We also offer a GPS Teen Driver Monitoring System. This system can alert parents when their teen drives at high speeds, after curfew or beyond a specified driving range. It can also allow parents to “check in” on their teen to make sure they are safe. Another tool we offer is the Parent/Teen driver contract to help teens get a clear understanding of the rules set forth to have the privilege to drive. Our website offers other tools such as 101 teen driver safety tips, information on how to get protected at the lowest cost, and much more. Coming soon, we will be offering a “How’s My Driving” bumper sticker and incident reporting service.

How does the GPS Teen Driver Monitoring System work?

This amazing system can give parents peace of mind knowing that their teen is driving safely. It has a small GPS unit that is installed under the dash in the teen driver’s car. This unit is connected to a website that parents can access to set parameters and view the car’s location, speed, and even unlock the car doors if the teen locks his or her keys in the car. Once parameters are set for speed limits, driving distance, and curfew, parents can receive alerts when a teen break these parameters. It can also let parents know by text message, e-mail, or phone call when their teen arrives at a destination, such as arriving at school every day.

Protecting Your Teen's Vehicle in Economic Crunch - Part Two

With economic pressure, crime is on the rise. This is part two on tips of how to keep your teen and vehicles safe.

Lock the car and pocket the keys. Don't walk away swinging them around like a tasty treat. And never leave your vehicle running unattended. This is just an open invitation to take your car. Most stolen cars were left unlocked or with the keys in the ignition!
If you really want to warm up your car first... get a "Remote Starter" or "Automatic Starter". You can press a button to get your car running and it will run for 10 minutes and then shut off. The vehicle will remain locked and will not remain running for more than 10 minutes until you unlock the steering wheel and put the key in the ignition giving you the best of both worlds: safety and convenience.

Don't leave valuables in plain view. Even if you cover it with a blanket in the back, do you really think they're that stupid? Another option is to put valuables in the trunk or don't leave it in the car at all!

Park in well lit, busy areas. For your protection too! FYI-- if your young student is leaving class late and it's dark-- many colleges will urge you and would be happy to provide a security escort if the student feels it's unsafe.

Don't leave your registration in your vehicle. Carry it with you!

ID your things There are engraving devices to engrave your rims, sound system, etc. in case of theft.

How much will my policy increase?

Something I'm sure many parents of budding drivers want to know is how much their policy is going to increase once they get their license.

I'll have to admit to you, it's not pretty. But with 50% of auto claims going out on young drivers alone, it's hard not to see why rates can be so high.

FYI, Females will cost less than males, because males tend to have more and bigger payouts when it comes to claims.

I've done a few "tests" if you will...statistics say that your policy can increase about 50%-100% by adding a young driver. On a policy costing about $2500 with 3 existing drivers, I added yet another driver. A 16 year old female, date of birth 1/1/92, licensed 12/1/08. The rate went up to only $3067. Not even close to the estimated 50%-100%!

Have I confused you enough? I hope not...I've now changed the information to a male. the rate is the same.

Now what if they got into an accident the day after they received their license (we've heard this story!) -- the rate shoots up to $3500. Male or female.

Now, you have to keep in mind though...insurance rates are based on a lot more than just the driver and their driving record. It's also based on where you live, how far you drive the vehicle, what vehicle you drive, how many vehicles you own, and an "insurance bureau score" which is partially based on credit.

Many times the rates can be different depending on how much was paid out on the accident. A little fender bender to an old Chevy will cost you less than a fatality in a Mercedes Benz.

Tips for Good Teen Driving in Bad Weather

Here are some tips to pass along to your teen driver as it's becoming more clear that summer is officially over...

In rain...

• Make it a point to turn on your lights whenever you have your windshield wipers on.
  
• Double or even triple the amount of following space you leave between you and the car in front of you when weather is wet.
  
• Brake gently
  
• Accelerate slowly
  
• Crack a window to keep your windshield from fogging up
  
• Remember, bridges and overpasses freeze before roads do
  
• Don't apply cruise control

In ice and snow...

• If you're stuck in ice or snow and aren't able to gain traction, try placing the floor mats under the tired
  
• If you back up into ice or snow, make sure your tailpipe is clear or you could get carbon monoxide poisoning
  
• Make sure you have window washing fluid-- you may need it in the even of sleet or snow
  
• Keep your pace steady and slow, but not so slow you become stuck in deeper ice/snow
  

In fog...

• Stay to the right of the roadway
  
• Turn on lowbeams
  
• If you cannot see the roadway, pull clear off the road away from traffic. Turn on hazard lights and wait until visibility improves
  

In high winds...

• It's best not to drive a van or other high profile type vehicle or to tow a trailer
  
• If you're following behind a vehicle with a tow or trailer take extra precaution and keep your distance
  

It's also a good idea to keep an emergency pack in your car with ice scraper, a bag of sand/salt/cat litter, flares or triangles, flashlight and extra batteries, first aid kit, jumper cables, nonperishable snacks, a candle and matches, a cup in case you have to melt snow for water, a shovel, gloves, a blanket, and even a pair of boots.

Thanks to www.teendriving.com