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A new service lets other motorists notify parents how their teens are driving.

By Caitlin McDevitt | Newsweek Web Exclusive
Aug 18, 2008 | Updated: 11:22  a.m. ET Aug 18, 2008

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  • Posted By: david's mom @ 10/19/2008 9:01:09 PM

    i think your idea is great my husband and i just this for the 1st time and think it's a great way to keep a check on these young drivers. our son will be driving next year and we will be joining. if our son chooses not to put the sticker on his car then i guess he doesn't drive. he must remember the is MINE

  • Posted By: smart thinker @ 08/26/2008 1:12:49 PM

    While I know that this is a positive idea, with good intentions, I would have to agree with miltongalfas. Teens would be infuriated with their parents who put this bumper sticker on their car. Truck drivers have it on their trucks, because they HAVE to. Unless you see something absolutely horrible on the road, you're probably not going to call the number on the sticker.

    It all comes down to this: If you can put a sticker on your kid's car to monitor their driving, why shouldn't they put a sticker on your car that reads "How is my parent driving?"

  • Posted By: Yayson @ 08/19/2008 8:41:09 PM

    Seems this system is just a RED FLAG for any would-be pedophiles / attackers looking for an easy target. Here we have a billboard advertisement of a young and inexperienced teen driver -- easily picked out among the sea of other cars around her/him. Sounds dangerous and I wouldn't ever want to put my daughter in that position.

  • Posted By: miltongalfas @ 08/19/2008 10:14:35 AM

    As the original provider for TEENSAFE I can tell you that it is a waste of money. Teens will not use it but the foolish media in search of any gimmick will talk about it and provide free press. It is one of those hare-brained executive schemes that wastes a lot of time and is never used.

    If Newsweek had done their homework they should have known that this is considered intrusive by teens and they will not drive a car with the sticker on it. Wake up Newsweek and do your job!!!

  • Posted By: teenparent @ 08/18/2008 9:08:42 PM

    Average Jane- one third of teens crash their first year licensed and studies show that they actually aren't develpementally able to handle the stimuli of the road. Limiting distactions is key. Car crashes are the number one killer of teens and anything that helps save lives is a postiive in my opinion. This isn't about keeping them down it is about keeping them safe.

  • Posted By: Nehal Shah @ 08/18/2008 3:06:58 PM

    I neither agree nor disagree with what <insert name here> just said.

  • Posted By: kapauldo @ 08/18/2008 1:35:05 PM

    (linkback) Thrive or Fail? Steer Straight: How's My Driving bumper sticker/phone # for teens [VOTE] - http://www.thriveorfail.com/21344

  • Posted By: Average Jane @ 08/18/2008 12:41:34 PM

    Teens need to be responsible for their own driving and their own auto insurance. If your teen runs a stoplight or speeds, the police will ticket. After so many tickets or accumulated points, the teen will lose their license. And, as parents, you can take the priviledge or driving YOUR car away from your teen. . More speeding/moving violation tickets mean higher auto insurance premiusm. Let the teen lear her/his own life lessons. They can handle it.

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