Houston Car Accident Lawyer Blog

Recent advancements in computer software and GPS devices have made monitoring a driver a relatively inexpensive and simple proposition. Cell phone providers like AT&T and Verizon provide applications that and able parents to monitor the location of their children if the children have a cell phone with GPS capability.

New advances in technology have enabled companies and parents to track the operation of a specific vehicle very easily and without much expense. The latest devices, plug directly into the onboard computer and new passenger vehicles. If the child is driving above set parameters or goes outside and a set area the parents now can receive a text message or e-mail alerting them to the issue.

In effect, for a few hundred dollars parents can now monitor the driving of their teenage children. Companies can monitor company vehicles and their use or misuse. Of course, with the ability to monitor every move a vehicle makes comes a concern about privacy. Certainly, GPS tracking devices and vehicle monitoring devices can be misused by anyone.

With teenage drivers however, the likelihood of being in a fatal accident is 5 times greater than the average driver. Teenage drivers and certainly brand-new drivers do not have the driving experience necessary to make good choices at all times. A parent as hard as they try to prepare their children to drive, driving in a big city is not what it was like when we grew up. Cars and pickup trucks are much faster and have much more power and traffic is multiple times worse than it was when mom and dad first driving.

Whether or not a family should invest in a vehicle-monitoring device for their teenage driver is a matter of personal choice. Certainly the young person's privacy should be respected and at the same time our primary duty as a parent is to protect our children and driving is certainly a big part of that. There are many new devices used to monitor vehicles performance and the latest versions plug directly into the computer and most newer passenger cars.

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According to SADD.org over thirty percent of people between the ages of twelve and twenty years of age, had their last drink, or binge at another persons home. The parents of these drunken juveniles are usually working, or are more interested in their own personal lives than those of their own children.

Granted there are single parents that work long hours to support their children, and cannot be home when their children are out of school. The fact remains that long distant or absentee parenting is not working with all the temptations of alcohol and drugs currently.

Just like with child predators meeting the sons and daughters of many Houston area families online while the parents are consumed with other activities or work. The lack of supervision lets all non-productive influences move into a pre-teen or teenagers life.

A child left to their own instruction will usually seek the affection of anyone who will show interest in them. Once this transition occurs, the parent loses much or all influence over their son or daughter's lives. This may in the form of a friend's parent allowing them to drink after school, and then allowing them to get back behind the wheel of an automobile and navigate their auto home under the influence of alcohol.

Teen drunk drivers are much more prone to having a drunk driving accident because their reaction times and judgment are more so impaired than that of a 21-50 year old, and are more likely to be involved in car accidents that end in single or multiple fatalities from crashing their vehicles while drunk.

Many parents may read this, and become enraged from being accused of neglecting their kid's while trying to earn a living for the very same children. The fact remains that the mother, and father are responsible for the actions of their children, and it is up to them to make the appropriate changes to prevent teen drunk driving.

Reaching out to Alcoholics Anonymous or another group for guidance on trying to help raise a sober child will be a good solid first step to take, and it might be necessary to change careers in order to be able to supervise, and raise your children in a more healthy, and productive environment.

There are also other non-profit organizations such MADD to get help and tips for parents with teens who may be drinking.

Continue reading "Teen Drivers Usually Drink Alcohol From Neglect Of The Parents" »