Thursday, October 11, 2007

"I'm watching you."

Even non-tech savvy parents look like they are going to get the option to spy on their kids every move when they are behind the wheel of Mommy and Daddy’s Lexus. It seems that tracking kids’ movements by GPS is so old school now that it is not funny. The next generation of driving monitors looks set to incorporate video surveillance. In case you are wondering the technology is being honed as you read this by American Family Insurance. (more)

Several U.S. auto insurers have begun offering in-car cameras or global positioning equipment to help parents monitor their teenagers' driving behavior, hoping to reduce the alarming number of crashes involving young new motorists.

Industry experts say it's too soon to gauge the effectiveness of programs like American Family Insurance Co.'s Teen Safe Driver, used by the Kindermans in Madison, Wis. But the case for needing to improve highway safety for teens is compelling. (more) (video)