Black Box-like System Watches Young Drivers

The Wisconsin State Journal published an article about a new "Teen Safe Driver Program offered by Madison-based American Family Insurance" today. The idea is that the insurance company will pay to have a 2-camera system installed that will record the inside of the car and in front of the car for a few seconds before and after some important event happens, like slamming on the breaks.

The first question I asked myself was whether I would have been ok with my parents putting one of these on my car when I got my drivers license. Honestly, I would have been against it at the time. If they don't trust me, then they could have driven with me more often. This device is basically a faux-parent; watching over your shoulder until you do something wrong, then it squelches on you. Then I realized that one reason my parents were so quick to have a car ready for me was that they needed my help; I have 2 little brothers that already needed to be driven around, and I wasn't exactly a stay at home kind of person.

Instead, I think that this system would have been great. Any absence of notices would have reassured my parents of my driving ability. Also I believe that the communication that a system like this would create would lead to better trust between a new driver and their parents.

I know that my situation was different than most kids though; My parents paid for my insurance. What happens when the new driver bears the cost of insurance and car payments? All of a sudden, the parent carries no financial responsibility for their new driver. Insurance companies will have a hard time convincing these self-supported drivers to get the system, even if it's for free.

For now, the program seems very conscious of privacy. Nothing is recorded besides important events - except whose not wearing a seat belt. However, lets say that insurance companies were to encourage self-supported drivers the option to be in this program, how can they avoid compromising their respect of privacy? One viable option that I hope to see in the future is that insurance companies offer to never look at the data and the person paying the insurance receives the reports. After the new driver turns 18, it would look great on their record that they had opted in on this program to improve their driving.

The one thing that insurance companies must avoid is any stipulation that a new driver has to have one of these systems, or even any insurance discount accompanying a system like this. Such a program could mean that new drivers might not get insurance to drive their parents car - which the parent might not want to modify. Also, if there was a discount involved, how could a parent make a child pay for insurance but not allow them to have this system installed - thus forcing the child to pay more for insurance.

Now I wonder what I'll think of my parents if they don't get one of these for my little brothers. I think it's a safe bet that I'll be pushing to get one of these when they reach that age.