Teenage Drivers Beware - Mom Can Now Go Everywhere with You

I have teenagers. Watching your teenager pulling out of the driveway behind the wheel, let alone as a passenger with another teenager behind the wheel, can put in a knot in your stomach like very few other situations in parenting can. I'm sure that watching those tail-lights go down the street is some step towards cutting the proverbial apron-strings, but my feelings are not about my kids growing up. It is pure fear.

We do all we can to raise our kids "right" We try to instill good morals and accountable decision making skills. However, out there on the road, there are too many things that can go wrong. One tiny lapse of judgement can spell tragedy for a teenage driver.

On June 27, 2007, SafeCo will be rolling out the answer to parents worries. Safeco will be releasing their Teensurance program. While many teenagers may not be happy about this, parents are rejoicing!

Briefly, Teensurance will install a hidden device in your car, or your teens car, and you are able to set "alarms" for that system. You can receive messages regarding these alarms,and your teenage drivers whereabouts, to your e-mail, your phone, in text message form, or on their website.

These alarms can be used to monitor many activities of the driver. For example, a parent can set the system to alert them if the car is driven over a certain speed limit, is driven outside on a certain area, or is driven during non-approved times of the day. This Teensurance system has GPS installed meaning parents can also set the system to inform them when the vehicle has reached a certain location (such as school or church) and on the flip-side, to alert them when the vehicle is at an unwanted destination (such as a bar or local hangout).

A nice addition to this system is the ability to unlock the doors at any time. With the click of a mouse, a lock-out teen can have access to the vehicle. One step further is a parents ability to remotely start the cars engine... or turn it off.. at any time.

Pricing for this program for current Safeco customers is $15 per month for the length of the required two-year contract.

When explaining this new program to my teenagers, I asked for their opinion. My son mentioned that it would be like always having me in the car with him. As a mother, I want my children to learn and enjoy adult-like freedoms, such as driving, but I also am in favor of this Teensurance program to help ensure a bit more accountability on my teenagers part, and piece of mind on my part.

When deciding to use a program like Teensurance, talk to your kids and explain how this could be viewed as an invasion of privacy, or they can choose to see this program as help when they need it and the end of mom calling every 10 minutes!

SafeCo offers a wonderful and informational video at their www.teensurance.com website on the their Teensurance program. You can also sign up to be informed as soon as the program is released.