General Motors has developed a new system that will allow parents to monitor their children while they are driving. It's called Teen Driver, and it will first be available with the 2016 Chevy Malibu. The new system offers several features not only to monitor teen driving, but also to encourage safe driving.
For example, the radio volume will automatically lower, or no devices will be able to connect to the car when passengers are not wearing their seat belts. Teen Driver will also be able to give audible and visual warnings when the vehicle is traveling faster than preset speeds. as reported by PCmag.
But its features don't end there. The new Teen Driver will allow parents to see how fast the car is going, how far it has traveled, and whether any safety features (such as speeding) have been violated.
Parents will also be able to adjust the maximum volume of the radio, and select a maximum speed from 60 to 120 kilometers per hour, which, if exceeded, will trigger warnings.
In its statement, GM cites statistics from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety indicating that fatal crashes among 16-19 year olds are nearly three times more common than those involving drivers aged 20 and older.
“We developed this system so that parents can use it as a teaching tool with their children, so they can discuss and reinforce safe driving habits,” said General Motors safety engineer MaryAnn Beebe. “As a mother of two, I know that keeping one’s family safer is of great value to parents.”
The new technology will be available on the 2016 Malibu as a standard feature on the Premier model and optional on the LT model. The 2016 Malibu will be unveiled at the New York Auto Show next month and is expected to go on sale later this year.
