GPS Device Could Let Parents Track Teen Drivers

Cincinnati Channel | June 23 2004

Some might call it Big Brother, but others see it as a potential advancement in parenting.

In light of the most recent fatal car accident involving teenagers, WLWT Eyewitness News 5's Brian Hamrick visited Blue Ash's RACO Industries, which offers Global Positioning System units for cars so parents can keep a long-distance eye on their children behind the wheel.

Monday night, a 16-year-old driver lost control of her car on Dela Palma Road in Clermont County, ejecting and killing her 14-year-old cousin. Investigators said speed was a factor in the tragedy.

RACO hopes that dramatic new technology will help give parents peace of mind, Hamrick reported.

"It's a parent's worst nightmare," RACO Vice President Tom Lehn said.

Lehn's company makes a vehicle tracking box that allows parents to check if their teen drivers are speeding.

"They can log on at any time and see where the vehicle is in real time," Lehn said.

The system not only gives real-time information, but a history of every stop and speed, Hamrick reported.

"Every time the vehicle stops, we list how long it was stopped, how long it was there and the address where it was at," Lehn said.

While the technology seems sure to spark concerns about a parental rights, proponents said they think it can work more like a co-pilot to make sure new drivers are doing everything possible to avoid a tragedy.

"They can pull up their teen's vehicle, (find out) where it is, where it's been and how fast it's been going."