“The Little Squealer” or “The Virtual Guardian Angel”? Young Drivers’ and Their Parents’ Perspective on Using a Driver Monitoring Technology and its Implications for Parent-Young Driver Communication

IntroductionIn-vehicle driving monitoring technologies have the potential to enable young drivers to learn from self-assessment. However, their use is largely dependent on parental involvement.MethodA total of 79 interviews were conducted with young drivers and parents regarding this technology and its use. Most had the experience of having an in-vehicle data recorder installed in the vehicle driven by the young drivers. Parents and the young drivers expressed both appreciation as well as reservations about its potential as a means to enhance the driving safety of young drivers.ResultsA surprising finding was that some parents did not check the feedback and said they relied on the young driver to do so. Main concerns related to privacy, parent-young driver relationship, self-esteem and confidence, constructive use of the feedback data, and the limitations of the documentation that can be done by the technology.ConclusionsProviding parents and young drivers with a support system and tools to discuss and utilize the feedback are underscored. Challenges include addressing the invasion of young drivers’ privacy and gender differences, and using the monitoring-capacity of the technology to enhance safe driving practices. Implications for programs to enhance communication and a dialogical approach between parents and young drivers are discussed.

Research Highlights
► Objections to in-vehicle tracking technology are invasion of privacy and trust
► An in-vehicle tracking technology advantage is it proves young drivers’ competence
► Parents find in-vehicle tracking technology can enhance parental authority
► In-vehicle tracking technology data viewed as limited and can be circumvented
► Parents may not check the feedback from the in-vehicle tracking technology