Stop your teen''s cellphone use while driving

[kenny]

Hey mom and dad, here is a new service you can install on your son's or daughter's cellphone.

It uses GPS to know if (s)he is moving over 5 MPH.
If so it disables all texting and make your kid unable to call anyone except you or 911.

Yeah, your kid is going to hate you, but at least (s)he won't be dead.

The story

 

[luckystar112]

GREAT idea. I think adults should use it too.

 

[OUpearlgirl]

I like the idea except for the fact that a passenger couldn''t use a phone either. I can''t count how many times I have been driving, lost, and had a friend in the car calling to get directions, etc.

 

[swingirl]

Date: 12/15/2009 10:20:58 PM
Author: OUpeargirl
I like the idea except for the fact that a passenger couldn't use a phone either. I can't count how many times I have been driving, lost, and had a friend in the car calling to get directions, etc.

Exactly. The passenger IS the person who should be on the phone getting directions or calling in their whereabouts.

 

[kenny]

Yes that is an inconvenience.

But if my 16 year old daughter is driving, having to pull over to make a call is a very small price to pay for knowing she is safer.

I would totally get this service if I had teenage kids.

 

[yssie]

I would not do this. What if he/she was being followed, and had to call for help, or something?


Having been a teenager and had this happen to me, once, I would've been beyond terrified if I hadn't been able to call both the police and my parents while driving out to the highway.


A better solution might be to have an "acceptable list" - obviously 911, and parents/guardians, siblings, doctors, something like that.



ETA: this was in the really dreadful neighbourhood that is downtown Baltimore, so not a common occurence, one would hope!

 

[Smurfysmiles]

Date: 12/15/2009 11:14:20 PM
Author: yssie
I would not do this. What if he/she was being followed, and had to call for help, or something?



Having been a teenager and had this happen to me, once, I would've been beyond terrified if I hadn't been able to call both the police and my parents while driving out to the highway.



A better solution might be to have an 'acceptable list' - obviously 911, and parents/guardians, siblings, doctors, something like that.




ETA: this was in the really dreadful neighbourhood that is downtown Baltimore, so not a common occurence, one would hope!

Kenny mentioned that you could still use the phone to call parents or 911 while driving, problem solved

 

[lyra]

*except where it is illegal to use a cell phone device while driving, like here. Although I suppose it would be okay if it could all be done handsfree... And, can I get one for my DH who is notorious for texting business while driving?

 

[yssie]

Ahh, missed that.


I think parents' should be allowed too. Parents' mobile numbers, home number, 911.

 

[Mrs Mitchell]

If I couldn't trust my daughter not to text while driving, there would be no car, because she wouldn't be mature enough to have it. I would hope that I never have to use tricks like this to enforce basic safety rules. I might be naive here but I'd want to rely on my parenting before I'd want to rely on something like this.

 

[stone-cold11]

err... that is some very low speed setting. I know I jog faster than 5mph, I walk at least that speed.

 

[steph72276]

I like the idea....teens do some stupid things. Even the really mature, smart ones that were raised right...believe me, I know!

 

[Mrs Mitchell]

That''s true -teens do manage to redefine stupidity sometimes, but if my parents had been so explicit in their lack of trust, I personally would have returned the car, but that''s just me and I was a very stroppy teen.

Anyway, I bought my own car and paid the running costs, same for my phone, so it wouldn''t have been possible.

 

[kenny]

I predict kids will find a way to hack around this software.
The "fix" will be passed around, cherished and kept secret.
Many parents will think their kids are safe, but they won''t be.

When discovered (frequently via car accidents) the stuff will hit the fan in zillions of homes.

 

[radiantquest]

I think it is a very good idea initially, but again the idea of no phone calls is scary. Plus, I prefer that DSD talks or texts on her phone in the car while I am driving. It keeps her from complaining about the music I am listening to.

 

[swingirl]

Luckily talking on the phone without a hands-free device or texting while driving is illegal in California. However, I see many many adults doing it on the freeway going 70 mph. Luckily the kids aren't on the freeway as much.

 

[kenny]

Date: 12/16/2009 1:05:45 PM
Author: radiantquest
I think it is a very good idea initially, but again the idea of no phone calls is scary..

It always allows calls to 911 and to parents.