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Mar 28, 2008 -- Auto insurers happy to cover teenagers -- with caveats

The Wall Street Journal's Personal Journal reports that a number of auto insurers are writing policies for brand-new teenage drivers for the first time in memory. Clark is stunned that Safeco, Nationwide, American Family and Fireman's Fund are among those doing this around the country -- with some conditions. In addition to requiring safety courses, some insurers want parents to install a camera in their teen's car. DriveCam.com offers one such device that can be monitored remotely.

This is not just about money. The No. 1 cause of death among teenagers is auto accidents. We as parents fear the impact that drugs and alcohol can have on our children's lives, but the thing that's most dangerous is the road. Several states have begun doing graduated licenses for teens. Clark recently told you that such plans have helped cut back on teen fatalities behind the wheel. As a parent, it may seem creepy to go the camera route. But Clark thinks it's reasonable. Other insurers make teens log their driving and turn in the logs.

A teen's newfound mobility does not mean they have good judgment. Clark's 19 year old recently told him that she thought she was invincible at 15. But she's changed her mind after being through 2 auto accidents where the vehicle was totaled. Thankfully she was not hurt either time.

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What others are saying

  • insurance and Driving cameras
    Just Today, I had a DriveCam installed. It was voluntary on my part and the insurance company (American Family) pays for everything. It only records 10 seconds before and after "events", things like hard braking, hard conering, and collisions. I'm supposed to review these events on a weekly basis and council my teenager. Maybe I can head off bad habits before they do harm.
  • Car cam
    I feel a camera is not required. However, tracking car speed to conditions (using a GPS) would be a better option. Conditions of the car can be tracked with available technology like amount of braking or acceleration.
  • teen car cameras
    I don't like this plan. In this age of internet postings of videos, I don't want to take a chance on my teenage daugher appearing on some website. While I am sure that insurers have strict "safeguards" against this happening, I don't trust anyone when it comes to privacy.
  • Camera
    I'd being willing to put it in my own car. My oldest child is 4, so I have some time.
  • Camera
    I spent a year riding in the car with my son while he had his permit. He took drivers ed in school, attended the comprehensive teen driving classes at Road Atlanta, and a class presented by our local sheriff's department. I did everything I could to make sure he was prepared to hit the road and would NEVER have considered allowing him to get his license if I didn't feel he was ready. Although he has been a careful and considerate driver (yes, I have been behind him several times when he didn't know it), it still didn't allow for the other driver who did something stupid and hit him. Luckily no one was hurt, but to make a long story short, the adult driving the other car should have been required to have the camera installed. So what I'm trying to say is that if you don't think your child is prepared, DON'T let him/her on the road.
  • Teens and cameras
    Something else that seems to be new is that a lot of teenagers are waiting to get their license. My son is 16 and just isn't interested in getting his right now. There is no need, he can ride his bike or walk wherever he needs to go. I have no problem with the cameras being installed, after all, his computer is in the same room mine is in. He is not allowed to use a password to the Internet either. If he blocks us out of his computer, he loses it. Distractions in the car happen frequently, even driving alone. With others in the car, it's harder to react correctly. So, I say Yes to the cameras. It's all about safety.
  • Teen Driving
    As the CEO of DriveCam and the father of six children (one of whom died in an accident, though not an auto accident), I have personally experienced the tragedy of losing a child. I will tell you that you don’t want to watch your child killed in an auto accident, you want to prevent them from being killed. Clark – and his family – are very lucky. I’d like to answer some questions concerning DriveCam that have been posted to this site. Some insurance companies are giving this technology to parents free of charge, so they have the opportunity to coach their teen before the crash occurs. And, parents only see what their teen does when something abrupt or risky with the vehicle occurs. When this happens, the teen loses 12 seconds of privacy in their life, which become the teachable moment to correct potentially lethal habit patterns before it becomes too late. What’s 12 seconds of knowing compared to a lifetime of grieving? Perhaps Clark’s 19 year old daughter may have avoided the two collisions (and totaling the car) if she had had the opportunity to be coached before they happened.
  • teens
    Won't these teens think of a way to take the camera out of the car while they are driving, only to replace it after they return?
  • Camera's
    What good is a camera if you child goes out and gets killed in an auto accident. Do you really want to WATCH your own child's death?
  • Wow. Two totals and only nineteen? Knock on wood, but I'm forty and have fortunately not yet totaled a car. I feel for you Clark. :(

    The camera is a nice idea, but isn't that at a great expense? I'll have to do the math and see if it makes a savings difference.

    Although on the other hand... if my teen thinks I'm watching, I imagine that (s)he would drive more alertly, which is a good thing.
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