Teen Driver Monitoring Service

Street Smarts • How the Program Works • Tips for Overcoming Resistance

Providing Teen Drivers With Street Smarts

Driver education classes, safe driving seminars and parental guidance lay a solid foundation for beginner drivers. But nothing can replace time spent behind the wheel in real life situations. A teen is allowed behind the wheel of a 3,000 lb. machine after a 12-20 minute behind the wheel test! Teens practice more for a soccer game!

Once licensed, your teen driver will encounter many traffic, weather, pedestrian or other potential dangers on the road not found in the safety of their learning experiences. Teens will be far more likely to stay alert and avoid risky behavior when they know they are being monitored. This same type of monitoring service has been in use successfully in the trucking industry, and companies who use the service have realized a 20 – 25% decrease in accidents, insurance claims and incidents of poor driving behaviors.

How The TeensOnBoard Program Works

1. Parents place the TeensOnBoard™ “How’s My Driving” reflective, UV-protected, non-removable bumper sticker on the rear bumper of the car. A registration number identifies your teen's car.
   
2. Our web site address and toll-free phone number, staffed by our trained “live” call center representatives, also prominently displayed on the bumper allow other motorists to provide feedback on your teen’s driving. By dialing 1-877-Teens-13, our customer service representatives will take the call on a 24/7/365 basis and fill out a detailed report. Parents will receive an email or phone call from TeensOnBoard within hours of the reported incident.

It’s that simple.

TeensOnBoard is the perfect bridge to earning the independence your teen so eagerly wants and the potential safety and reassurance you want to insure.

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Tips Towards Overcoming Resistance to Monitoring

For most teens, a driver’s license symbolizes independence. So it’s only natural that the imposition of any monitoring program will be met with some level of resistance.  Here are some tips to help you get your teen on board with our program.

Keep Communicating. By initiating and maintaining good communication with your teen, you are telling them that you respect them enough to include them. Listening to your teen’s issues is a great first step toward setting up a cooperative and non-combative relationship around the subject of safe driving.

Share Your Research. Lay all your research and statistics on the table. Share any personal experiences you may have and most of all share your fears and feelings. Have confidence that your teen is listening even if he or she acts put out. Don’t feel like you should spare your teen from reality. Print out articles from heartbroken parents and siblings. Make them understand that tragedies really do happen. Trust that they will go back to their room and think about the conversation.

Reward Their Participation. Tell them that as they maintain a good TeensOnBoard driving record, your confidence in their safe driving experience will grow and so will their privileges. You can even put together a plan. For every 3 months with no incidents, their independence can expand.

Refer A Friend. Contact a few parents of your teen’s friends. Tell them about TeensOnBoard and explain that as a united front, they can help ensure that the group of friends remains safe together. Share the statistics of how accidents rise sharply when more than one teen is in the car. When a group of friends all become members, you may feel more positive about letting them go off in the car together.

Draw Up A Driving Contract. Driving is a serious responsibility that teens don’t often really understand. A signed driving contract that includes driver safety (including their TOB membership), car care, and rules that contain consequences when broken will let them know how serious you are about the issue. (See Links/Resources page)

Make Safe Driving A Family Goal. It’s hard to ask your teen to stick to rules and systems when you yourself don’t. Demonstrate how important the issue is by practicing safe driving yourself by wearing your seat belt at all times, turning your cell phone off, always using your turning signals, never speeding up to get through a yellow light, etc. If your teen will be driving the family car, remind him or her that someone might just call in an incident when they are behind the wheel too.

Paying For Some Car Expenses. When teens have to share maintenance or insurance costs, they are less likely to act recklessly or irresponsibly. They will also feel less likely to resist being monitored when you are footing half the bill.

Insist. No parent should be afraid to set and stick to rules when it comes to such an important issue as driver safety. They are still minors and must obey your rules. When it comes to what’s best for your teen, you can’t always worry about being their friend. Remember, the car keys and safety are in your hands.