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Car insurers' devices track teen drivers
By Dave Carpenter
Associated Press
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CHICAGO -- When 17-year-old Anna Kinderman takes a turn too fast in her parents' sedan or jams the brakes too hard, she apologizes aloud even when no one else is in the car. "Sorry, Dad," she says, looking up at the camera mounted on the rear-view mirror.

Mom and Dad will see the incident on video soon enough, after all.

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.

Traffic accidents are by far the No. 1 killer of U.S. teenagers, with a fatality rate four times higher than drivers aged 25-69. A total of 5,288 teens died in traffic accidents in 2005, and more than 7,000 were driving cars involved in fatal accidents.

Insurance companies can benefit significantly if the initiatives catch on, according to Craig Weber, senior insurance analyst with research and consulting firm Celent.

"It's a unique opportunity for them to help change behavior, which will help them drive down rates, which will make customers happy," said Weber. Even if rates don't drop, he added, "it's a huge win in building customer loyalty and generating positive PR."

One of the programs - Safeco Corp.'s Teensurance - just announced premium discounts of up to 15 percent for its customers who participate. Others are likely to follow suit.

Under Teen Safe Driver, a camera records audio and video images of both the road and the driver when motion sensors detect swerving, hard braking, sudden acceleration or a collision. The footage goes to an analysis center where it is graded for riskiness and sent on to parents with comments and coaching tips.

Teen drivers have mixed feelings about the technology; one in 20 even cover the camera after it is first installed, according to program officials.

"It's great that you can see what you did wrong," said Anna. "But it kind of feels like a parent is in your space, especially when you get yelled at if you do something wrong."

She has been part of a pilot program at her high school for the last year. She usually sits down with her father, a police officer, to review the incidents - and explain why she was driving with a cell phone to her ear.

Her mom, Bette Kinderman, views the system as a great tool for parents. "I'd rather be able to talk to her about an issue before there's an accident," she said.

She downplayed concerns about privacy: "To me, my kids haven't earned their privacy in a car yet. Being in a car is so dangerous."

While the early data is limited, Madison-based American Family says teen drivers participating in the program have had significantly fewer crashes and injury accidents than would have been expected based on national driving statistics. It also says driving risk scores measured in the recordings analyzed drop an average 80 percent during the first 16 weeks.

Rusty Weiss of DriveCam Inc., the San Diego-based company that developed the technology, said the video captures more inattentive mistakes than aggressive-driving ones; for example, teens talking on their cell phones, listening to iPods or heeding friends' advice to run yellow lights. Private details and conversations are not shared with parents, he said, nor are individual incidents or video clips given to American Family.

"Our program is really about providing a bridge between parents supervising teenage drivers in their vehicle and being out there on their own," Weiss said.

Privacy-wise, the key is that the program is voluntary, said Joan Claybrook, president of the nonprofit group Public Citizen, which advocates for safer roads.

"I think it's very important for teenagers to get some feedback at a time when they're new to driving," she said. "As long as they're fully informed of the potential uses of it and the parents are fully informed of it and they decide to do it anyway, then that's fine."

Other programs aim to accomplish similar goals using global positioning systems technology.

Guy Thompson of Lake Oswego, Ore., gets an automated text message whenever his 16-year-old daughter Maggie drives her car more than five miles from home or exceeds 55 mph, limits he set to trigger alerts under the Teensurance plan. He also can monitor the location of her car online, or even set the device to notify him if the car arrives at a specified address.

Thompson says the extra information eases his concerns when Maggie is out and has made her more forthcoming about her whereabouts.

Maggie said she's become a more conscientious driver because she knows that if she speeds, the device - and her dad - will hold her accountable.

"I think it's generally a good thing," she said, "as long as you have a trusting relationship and you're honest. And if you don't, maybe it's a step in the right direction."

Customers of Seattle-based Safeco pay an additional $14.99 a month for two years for the program.

While Safeco agents suggested that initial interest in the program was tepid, spokesman Matt Gertmenian characterizes nationwide sales as good so far. The main goal, he said, is to get teens to think and talk more about driving safety.

"We're trying to have them drive the way they do when Mom and Dad are in the car with them," he said.

Another new program is MobileTeen GPS, launched in April by American International Group Inc.'s AIG Auto Insurance. Like Teensurance, the GPS program sends parents an e-mail or text message if the teen's car exceeds pre-defined speed limits or strays too far from home or school.

The cost is $19.99 a month for two years for policy holders of Wilmington, Del.-based AIG; others can buy the device for $469 and join the program for another $29.99 a month.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is withholding a formal opinion until it can complete studies on their effectiveness. It's also unclear how widely the monitoring devices will be embraced by parents and teens, said Anne McCartt, senior vice president for research.

"We think it's quite likely that the teens' behavior would be affected, knowing that their parents are getting feedback on the risk-taking and the errors that they're making," she said. "Whether that translates into lower crashes, we don't know."

On the Net

Teen Safe Driver program: http://www.teensafedriver.com

Teensurance: http://www.teensurance.com

MobileTeenGPS: http://www.aigteengps.com

State Farm's Young Driver Research Initiative: http://www.statefarm.com/about/csr/safe_neighbors/teen_safety.asp

Take a look
Anna Kinderman, 17, and her mother, Bette Kinderman, show off a small camera that is installed near the rear-view mirror to record unsafe "events" when the teenager drives, Sept. 23, 2007, in Madison, Wis, The monitoring device provided through Madison-based American Family Insurance Co.'s Teen Safe Driver program is one of several in-car cameras or global positioning equipment units that U.S. auto insurers have begun offering to help reduce the alarming number of crashes involving young new motorists. (AP Photo/Andy Manis)
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Reader comments on this story - 19 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

happy tax payer wrote on Oct 11, 2007 1:11 PM:

" i'm with you, definately put the in the cops so that there is proof for some of the cops under investigation for being corrupt "

J O wrote on Oct 11, 2007 11:18 AM:

" For a government that had a hand in 9/11 (minimally, foreknowledge) and which brags about "spreading freedoms," it sure rides the fast track in STEALING rights and promoting intrusions. The only thing more disgraceful than the current Bush-Clinton Dynasty is the pathetically apathetic populace. "

J O wrote on Oct 11, 2007 11:02 AM:

" This is hideous. Revolt young people. Stick some chewing gum on the camaras. If you don't put a stop to this, your every move will soon be playing at a dystopian theatre new you. "

To: 75 IQs wrote on Oct 11, 2007 10:55 AM:

" So, because some people don't have Ozzie and Harriet to back them up, the fortunate ones that do should also suffer? Why in the world would you deprive someone of a good thing that they can take advantage of just because someone else may not be able to do so? "

Safeco wrote on Oct 11, 2007 10:06 AM:

" Is run by lawyers only. No, really. "

Just Wait wrote on Oct 11, 2007 10:05 AM:

" Some one will sue stating lack of privacy cause lil sweety got caught making out in the car... "

to Robert wrote on Oct 11, 2007 9:57 AM:

" That'll only happen if all teenagers, as a group, start having less accidents. You can even tell from the article that teen drivers are involved in more accidents - by far - than experienced drivers are. There's such a strong correlation that insurance companies can't ignore it. It's not a punishment; it's an honest assessment of risk. And if you think a teen's premium is high now, check out what happens to it if they don't have a good student discount and cause a few accidents... "

to: robert wrote on Oct 11, 2007 7:43 AM:

" The reason why insurance is so high on teenagers is because insurance is about risk. There is a certain price for a certain risk. If you have a higher risk, then you'll have a higher premium. This is the reason why teenagers have such high insurance premiums because they have a higher risk of getting in an accident as everyone knows. I also work for SF and I sell auto insurance. I get this alot from people who think it should be cheaper. However, we do offer an accident free discount. After you have proven you are a good driver you will continue to get more discounts down the road. That is just how insurance works and how it always will. "

Mac Daddy wrote on Oct 11, 2007 7:23 AM:

" This begins to sound like a good idea that will become mandatory. Kinda like the laws passed that sound like a good idea, but when people really look at it, the program really is not that great. Hey Robert, if you have a teen driver in the HH and they have a "B" avg in school they may get a good student discount. Also if their parents are with the good neighbor, drivers under 25 may participate in the steer clear program where they watch a video and keep a log of their driving for 2-3 weeks. The 2 programs combined can get a serious discount. "

Big Brother's Brother wrote on Oct 11, 2007 7:23 AM:

" By the time they have the technology and acceptence to place one of these in EVERY car, humans won't be driving anymore. Of course for every measure they take to invade privacy, someone always comes up with a counter measure.. I'm sure they'll be hacked just like the iPhone if/when it comes down to it. :) "

Motherof2teens wrote on Oct 11, 2007 7:18 AM:

" I agree with Robert. What ever happened to "innocent until proven guilty". The insurance companies all assume that teenagers are guilty. Also, raising the driving age is not the answer, but getting teenagers their drivers permit earlier is. What "brain child" decided that a teen could not get their permit until 3 months before they started Drivers Ed? Back in the stone age, I got my permit at 14 and had 2 years of driving with my parents before I was able to get my license. After 2 years of hearing "slow down when you go around the corner" or "dim your lights before you blind that oncoming driver", you learn to do it instinctively and are a more responsible driver. "

Angry Moderate to Happy Tax Payer wrote on Oct 11, 2007 6:44 AM:

" Yes, this system should be installed in any vehicle which is paid for by our tax dollars and driven by a government employee. Maybe in Blago's jet as well. If said employee wants their privacy while on the job, they can pay for their own transportation. "

Cynical wrote on Oct 10, 2007 10:02 PM:

" For now it’s just for kids, but soon it will be a mandatory feature for all who are insured. Just think this technology could soon be used by the police to track every mistake you make. And, yes you can bet that tickets will be issued and that insurance policies will go up. Welcome to Orwell's 1984, where big brother (the government) reviews your every move! "

nicholodianx4 wrote on Oct 10, 2007 9:12 PM:

" I know that most children would be more occupied with looking into to mirror and worrying what their parents see in exchange and less eyes on the road. I would not be willing to make another, yes another payment for a service like this if the teen already had a cell phone with a tracking system like ours does. We as parents cannot be the eyes and ears for our children, its part of life to instill values and morals and guide them to be great adults and this would be not a good way to do so. "

This reminds of a funny memory wrote on Oct 10, 2007 8:35 PM:

" We had just gotten our Nextels, the kids were going someplace and had inadvertently placed the phone so the radio was engaged so of course I was hearing everything. They still don't know how I was able to ask them how the squirrel was that they almost ran over. I just told them that "Moms know everything". "

Robert wrote on Oct 10, 2007 8:33 PM:

" To: 75IQs: You must not have a teenage driver in your house. At least call an insurance agent - any agent - and check out what the prices are for a 16 year old driver. It's highway robbery. Shouldn't a driver - any driver - any age - deserve to start with a decent rate and then let their driving record speak for itself? I mean if a teenage driver is a good driver, why should they have to pay through the nose because of the other idiots on the road. No - I'm not a teenage driver. I happen to work for the good neighbor and I believe that kids should be given an equal chance to prove they can drive good. You have an accident or ticket, then up go your rates. This would give parents like myself a big break on the cost of insuring a young driver unless they prove they're not deserving of it. "

Happy Tax Payer Dot Com wrote on Oct 10, 2007 8:21 PM:

" i would like to see one of these devices in every judges, counsel member, police, *paid* firemen, board members of Heartland, ISU, U of I, etc. etc. . . vehicles "

75 IQs wrote on Oct 10, 2007 5:45 PM:

" What about 16-17 year old who's parents are dead? I swear some people must live in a cave on Mars. Not everyone has Ozzie or Harriet to back them up. But feel free to dump on them and make their lives as hard as possible. "

Time to Raise the Driving Age wrote on Oct 10, 2007 5:07 PM:

" No teen can afford to buy a road safe vehicle and insurance by themselves these days. Why not raise the driving age to 18 to give these parents a break for having to fork over thousands of dollars for a vehicle and additional insurance. Sure, the parents would have to run around after their kids for two more years, but alteast it would involve them in there kids lives for two more years. What harm could come of that? Wasn't there just an article on this site a few months ago that state what kids wanted most was spending more time with their parents. Sure, at 18, kids are still irresponsible, but they also have more responsibilities too. "
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