Do you think a driving monitor will help curb my teens reckless driving?

Question

I've just recently asked about helping to bring my teens driving under control and one response mentioned a driving monitor
http://www.Thesafedrivingmonitor.com I was wondering if anyone had tried this or something like it such as Carchip or a black box and gotten any results. I've tried talking and explaining the risk, taking away privileges, but as soon as one punishment ends he is at it again. I guess as parents we're a little lost as this is the only time I think I've ever really had to discipline him, usually he careful and smart there is just something about being behind the wheel that gets his blood boiling.

Any thoughts?

Answer 1

Slow him down by changing his wheels , Our neighbors brought their reckless teen driver a geo metro (small 3 cyl car at the time) and said that was his car like it or not. Gone was the V-8 Chevy he loved so much -and all of his friends as he seen it.



Years later the Kid now an adult jokes with the rest of us when he comes back home driving a Mazda Mita,,, he said the small part he likes but he has to have his preformance yet. He admits that Geo metro probably saved his life as he just like most kids he had the freedom to mess up for a change. The Geo didn't have power as he recalled to get into trouble or the power to make anything but an understatement. He admits it was better than walking and it got him to school early so he could get inside before his friends were there.



His Mom didn't think he would ever speak to her again!



All is well that ends well.

Answer 2

Exactly HOW does this monitor change the driver's behavior? Does it send a painful electrical charge when the speed limit is exceeded? Does it cut out the engine when the driver tries to rev it too high?



As mentioned before, all it will tell you are SOME of the times when reckless behavior is being done. But if you already know your teen drives this way, the monitor isn't telling you anything new.



Even YOU say that your teen starts misbehaving when his punishment is over. How does a monitor change that?



Be a parent. A machine isn't going to do that for you. If YOU can't change his behavior, then perhaps your child isn't ready to be a responsible driver. Take away his driving privileges until he can afford to pay for all his own vehicle costs, including insurance, and, when he is eighteen years old, and responsible for his OWN behavior.



It may seem harsh, but, if he went around brandishing a firearm, was caught, punished, and STILL did it afterward, would you let him continue to have a gun? How is driving a car different?

Answer 3

Parents are lost, because parents are trying to find someone to blame, and they are unable to. And when they can't, the look for something to correct the problem, rather than fixing it themselves.



If you had raised your teens to be mature and responsible, you'd have no problem at all with their driving behavior.



Putting a driving monitor in the car, is like putting a bandaid on a crime scene. The damage is done. Hoping to adjust their behavior now, is way behind the game.



Particularly since you mentioned this is the only time you've had to discipline them. Which sounds like you've been WAY too lenient in the past.



If he starts up again, as soon as you end the punishment, use some logic: DON'T END THE PUNISHMENT.



All you've shown him is this: if he behaves, then he doesn't get punished.



So of course he's going to behave for a little while. That's all you've asked him to do. Set rules, and keep the rules. Regardless of how good he is, the rules stand, because those are the rules.



That's simple Parenting 101.



Buy what you want, but the time to adjust their behavior is over and gone.

Answer 4

You could try it but you have caught him numerous times driving recklessly and he still does it so I doubt that it would deter him. Just keep taking the keys from him for longer periods of time. Not just days but months at a time. If he has to walk instead of drive it might sink in eventually. If not some night you will get that dreaded call that he or someone else is dead.

Answer 5

Why do you need a monitor? All the monitor will do is report his reckless driving to you, something you already know. The problem seems to be inadequate punishment on your part. Take away the keys before he kills himself or someone else. Problem solved.

Answer 6

See if you can get the local police department or tow company to let you kid ride along on some accident calls were reckless drive is the cause. that will wake him up

Answer 7

We have never installed this item before on our customers kids vehicles but we have installed GPS tracking devices that give real time locations and speed and I am for anything that will help a young person out and remember it is not that you don't trust them its done because of peer pressure and love...