Automotive Black Box Tracks Teen Driving
Young Drivers Don't Like It, But Mourning Dad Believes This Could Help
POSTED: 5:38 p.m. EST November 8, 2002
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- When 16-year-old Katie Townsend, 16, of Boca Raton is driving, she hears repeated safety reminders from her nervous father.
"See if the cars are pulling out of their driveways," her father, Brad Townsend, says.
"My hands are sweating," Katie says.
Dad's anxiety mounts when Katie drives alone.
"Very nerve-racking ... to give a couple-thousand-pound automobile to a kid and go 'You're on your own. Please don't wrap it around a tree," Brad Townsend said.
Now, technology has arrived that allows parents to supervise their children's driving without being in the car. Every time Ryan Evans, 17, hops behind the wheel, he must insert a special key that activates a black box located under the passenger seat that records every second of his driving.
"At first, I thought I really didn't need it," Ryan said. "It just feels like my mom is next to me telling me what I'm doing wrong."
Teenagers may hate it., because the black box -- called SafeForce -- allows parents to monitor five areas of concern:
Parents have good reason to worry. The combination of teenage confidence and inexperience can be lethal. Teenage drivers are twice as likely to be involved in crashes as adults.
Teen Kerry Farr died when the car she was riding in hit a tree at high speed. Her father -- a paramedic -- was already familiar with the black box installed in the ambulance he drives. He believes the boxes should be standard equipment for all teenage drivers.
"I don't wish any parent to experience what my wife and I are going through," Farr said.
The SafeForce goes on sale next month.
On The Net:
Copyright 2003 by News4Jax.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
"See if the cars are pulling out of their driveways," her father, Brad Townsend, says.
"My hands are sweating," Katie says.
Dad's anxiety mounts when Katie drives alone.
"Very nerve-racking ... to give a couple-thousand-pound automobile to a kid and go 'You're on your own. Please don't wrap it around a tree," Brad Townsend said.
Now, technology has arrived that allows parents to supervise their children's driving without being in the car. Every time Ryan Evans, 17, hops behind the wheel, he must insert a special key that activates a black box located under the passenger seat that records every second of his driving.
"At first, I thought I really didn't need it," Ryan said. "It just feels like my mom is next to me telling me what I'm doing wrong."
Teenagers may hate it., because the black box -- called SafeForce -- allows parents to monitor five areas of concern:
- Seat belt use
- Speed
- Cornering
- Braking
- Revving the engine
Parents have good reason to worry. The combination of teenage confidence and inexperience can be lethal. Teenage drivers are twice as likely to be involved in crashes as adults.
Teen Kerry Farr died when the car she was riding in hit a tree at high speed. Her father -- a paramedic -- was already familiar with the black box installed in the ambulance he drives. He believes the boxes should be standard equipment for all teenage drivers.
"I don't wish any parent to experience what my wife and I are going through," Farr said.
The SafeForce goes on sale next month.
On The Net:
RoadSafety.com
Copyright 2003 by News4Jax.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
