"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

Nurit Guttman*, Anat Gesser-Edelsburg

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Introduction: In-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. Method: A 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. Results: A 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. Conclusions: Providing 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.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)51-59
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of Safety Research
Volume42
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2011

Keywords

  • Gender and driving
  • In-vehicle technologies
  • Novice drivers
  • Parent-young driver relationship
  • Qualitative study
  • Road safety
  • Road safety technologies

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of '"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'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this