A recent National Highway Traffic Safety Administration analysis showed that teen drivers were behind the wheel in 13% of fatal car crashes over the last decade. Because the number is alarmingly high, parents are tasked to teach their children about mindfulness when on the road.
We’ve previously listed tips for staying safe on the road, one of which was connected to pedestrian safety. This includes stopping when traffic control signals are absent, or pedestrians enter a crosswalk before the light changes.
While those tips are definitely helpful, parents can still worry about their children’s inexperience, instances of speeding, and screen distractions. Fortunately, there are driving apps to help your teen avoid road dangers and cultivate better driving patterns.
Read on to learn about the four apps you might like to try.
1. FamiSafe
Available for Android and iOS, Free
When left unmediated, your negative driving habits can increase the chance of being involved in a collision. This is particularly true if your child has a penchant for exceeding the speed limit. Of course, it’s hard to tell what your teen’s when you aren’t with them.
Thankfully, the FamiSafe app provides you with data on your teen’s real-time location, average speed, highest speed recorded, and total distance covered. If they do go beyond the speed limit, the app will send an alert on your phone. You can also view and compare weekly driving reports. This way, you know when to intervene if your child has displayed particularly reckless driving behavior. FamiSafe also allows you to monitor screen time, so you know if they’re on the phone while driving.
2. Apple Fitness App
Available for iOS, Free
If your teen does encounter an unfortunate accident, crash detection features can quickly connect them with the help they need. The Apple Fitness app is developed to track one’s activity details. The app works in tandem with an Apple Watch, which now has new motion sensors to identify whether a severe crash has occurred. Typically, wearable devices display information such as calorie intake or heart rate to enhance health monitoring. However, such technologies have underrecognized advantages in road safety. When your teen has their Apple Watch on, you can be notified about their device location in case of a car crash. The device can also dial emergency services quickly if your child is unresponsive after a ten-second countdown.
3. DriveScribe
Available for Android and iOS, Free
For new teen drivers, not having immediate contact with you may pose a challenge. But learning how to navigate the road is part of their learning experience, and you can’t be there every step of the way. Known as the "Safe Driving Coach," the DriveScribe app delivers information on trips and driving statistics. These can assist your child immensely and even lead them to correct mistakes that can hinder their growth as a driver. If you want to incentivize good driving for your teen, DriveScribe also lets drivers earn points that can be redeemed at their favorite shops like Amazon or Express.
4. DriverPremium
Available for Android and iOS, starts at $4.99
Every parent wants their teen to get to their next destination safely, and DriverPremium can help give parents this reassurance. The app offers real-time safety alerts like forward collision, driver drowsiness and distraction, and nationwide roadside assistance notifications. If you’re worried about the areas your child is driving to, DriverPremium also enables video footage sharing via the new DriverCloud. This cloud storage feature automatically syncs dash cam clips through the app or any web browser. As such, you can easily observe your teen’s driving videos within the palm of your hand.
Want to learn more?
Are you looking for defensive driving and traffic school courses? Do you want a discount on your auto insurance? Are you a mature driver interested in a discount on your auto insurance? Do you have a teen who’s ready to take an online driver education course?
Safe2Drive is here to help! We offer convenient online courses for drivers of any age! Visit our website today to learn about the online courses we offer in your state.