Few things are as challenging and difficult as sending a new driver into the world. Even with a lengthy driver’s education training as well as lots of driving time behind the wheel with parents, it is never easy to send your child out in a car for the first time. With warnings about keeping eyes open for everything from motorcyclists to pedestrians, parents sometimes feel as if they can do little more than hope for the best when their newest driver heads out on a first solo drive.
Fortunately, there are new resources that parents can use if they want to monitor the driving habits of their children. From technology that was originally developed to monitor drivers who have been previously arrested for driving under the influence or for previous accidents, both health agencies and insurance companies have tools that could be comforting in the hands of parents with new drivers.
Aspects that are a part of many monitoring systems:

• Sober driving. Car breathalyzers and ignition interlock systems that are installed in a vehicle require a driver to verify that they are substance free before even starting a car. Additionally, If the driver fails an initial rolling retest, the vehicle will sound its alarm or horn and lights will flash until the driver pulls over and turn offs the engine. Drunk driving causes a person to be injured in a car accident every two minutes in America and many believe that these ignition monitoring devices can lower this devastating statistic.
• Smooth driving. Located in a card inserted in the vehicle’s own system or on a cell phone, programs can help everyone from insurance companies to parents to the young drivers themselves, monitor this driving habit, an indicator that it will be easier to anticipate hazards in enough time. By training drivers to avoid harsh braking and erratic speed changes, the hope is to encourage drivers to make safe decisions in response to weather and traffic conditions, in addition to other drivers.
• Speed safety. Driving at appropriate speeds is one proven way to avoid accidents. The fact that there are nearly 6 million car accidents in the U.S. each year is just one indicator that many of the nations drivers would do well to keep an eye on the speed they are driving in an effort to limit the chance of not only being in a crash, but also limiting the severity of a crash if it happens.
• Mobile distraction. It may come as no surprise that 52% of personal injury cases relate to motor vehicle accidents. In today’s world, an increasing number of these accidents are caused by mobile distractions. Monitoring the use of a driver’s phone can help limit this problem. With programs that continue to encourage drivers to avoid using their phones, even on a hands free call, drivers are encouraged to go agains the trend of being one of the distracted drivers who are the cause of so many accidents.
• Fatique. Whether you are a young driver or an experienced motorcyclist, fatigue has a negative impact on the driving that we all do. Learning to take breaks on long trips will help you stay alert while driving, another way to reduce the chance of being involved in an accident.

The legal, financial, and emotional implications of a distracted driving charge are huge. It is one thing to talk to your new driver about looking out for motorcyclists, pedestrians, and other vehicles, but it may be far more beneficial to use a monitoring system to make sure that the youngest drivers in your family are getting off to a good start. If you want to avoid future discussions about when to call a DUI lawyer or what to do in the event of a car accident, you might want to make use of all of the available resources.
Law firms and personal injury attorneys may be able to provide advice after an accident, but parents who want to avoid these discussions all together understand the benefits of proactively looking for ways to make sure that their newest drivers are safe and successful. Motorcyclists, other drivers, and pedestrians all deserve to be safe every time they leave the house.