Parents can Buy Black Boxes for Kids Cars

[sdkfz]

http://www.msnbc.com/news/963677.asp?0cv=CB20

280.00 USD gets you a basic driving habits tracker, and in three months another 200 dollars wil get you a GPS tracker in real time.

Yeah here are privacy issues here , enter the lawyers....

[mbossman2]

From a parents point of view: its MY car, its MY insurance and if the kid wrecks the car due to speed or stupidity, its MY wallet on the line (plus I love my kid and don't want anything to happen to them that I could prevent)

Kids will act like it is a great invasion of privacy, but refer back to above. Monor children should have the illusion of privacy (from their parents) but not the reality.

from an adult point of view: you want to pay for the machine and give me a break on my insurance for having this in the car and driving safely, why not.

From an employers point of view: It is my (the company's) car and like anyother piece of company equipment, i have a right to know that it is being used for the purposes intended and in the manner intended. I would make sure my employees signed an agreement to that effect so they can choose whether or not they want to have access to this piece of equipment.

Do i want the government to mandate this piece of equipment in my car NO. They have no need to have any of this information. Should the government have access to the information if I choose to put it in my car? not without a compelling public safety reason and a court order.

[sdkfz]

mbossman2

taking you paragraphs in turn

1) Yup totally agree
2) Ditto
3) Was hopeful for that
4) Totally agree again
5) I'll have to take this one in pieces -

A mandate may be deemed part of 'public safety' , I do not know enough about law so I will leave this one as 'iffy'. It is probably something we all want IF we are being sued for something that this would be the proof we need to prove our innocence. See my last comment below.

Government Need to know - only in a court of law as a subpena item to prove/disprove claims. (negligence-product design etc)

Govvernment access - If it is a court then see above (remember that the courts are government too), if it is anyone else I agree.
.
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As with the downloading music thing, I see technology redefining how we live in a greater and greater way, while we appreciate some of it, older economy models are going to be changed and challenged. In any case where change occurs, where 'my' profits are at stake 'I' will fight tooth and nail to protect 'my' interests, while others take advantage and profit from it. Adapt or close shop. The big problem now is the pace of change is so great....

[Strider]

I see nothing wrong with black boxes for tracking children.

Just one little note, here in Michigan about 6 months ago (Maybe longer) I saw a news telecast where a local city's police put a tracking device on a person's car and the person was later arrested (can't remember the crime). Well, of course the defense lawyer challenge the legality of the tracking device, the judge threw the challenge out the window stating the tracking device was put on the car in a public place with no breaking into the car with the reasonable assumption that a crime had taken place. The judge also compared it to putting a pamphlet on you car, if found the person could have just toss it out. So if you think that the police can't put a tracking device on your car, think again (of course this might not be legal if no law was broken, but since I'm no lawyer I don't know).

[Mac Medic]

These things are a great idea, not only for children but for company vehicles too. Also I Personally think this kind of thing should be mandated on semi-trucks and coupled to an engine limiter device to stop reckless semi drivers.

[Colonel Sanders]

I thinks it's abesolutley stupid. For an employer, it makes sense, but to keep track of your kids? No.

If your that worried about them doing something bad in there car/your car, don't let them drive. I know people who don't drive because they got in trouble driving. Everyone deserves some privacy, and by the time your old enough to drive, you should have some privacy. Maybe if you let a 14 year old drive(yes, around here I was even driving at that age)... Even if a 14 year old here gets a license, they may only legally drive out in the country...

If you cant trust your kid, don't let them do it.

Next will be seeing GPS trackers standard in cars so cops can know exactly when you were speeding, how would you like that?

L J

[erucader]

I don't think it is invasion of privacy - given that it does not record what is going on in the car (audio for instance). Especially if the parents own the car they want to know their kid is responsible. If all that it reports is illegal behaviour, fine - its your fault if you get caught.

[james8547]

Thank goodness I don't have 1 like that on my civic. I drive 70-75 mph on highways sometimes.

I believe that speeding is not a huge problem. I know most of you will disagree. Driving habits is more of a bigger issue. I would think that a guy on his cellphone or eating his lunch while driving is most likely to get in an accident rather than some 1 doing 130mph. The guy who's doing 130 will have his attention focused on driving. His adrenaline is pumping. He won't be thinking of work or anything else. Nothing else matters other than staying on the road.

[Colonel Sanders]

This is not fair to the people who abide by the law. Forget thinking, just let the law take care of you...

As stated before, I would rather see someone driving 100+MPH than someone talking on a cellphone. I will admit that I don't really mind either of the two activites, so long as you can safely drive.

L J

[DarkHorse]

I'm a bit conflicted about this issue, because I can understand how the invasion of privacy issue can grate on a kid's nerves.

However, I think that if you accept money from someone, you accept the fact that you owe them something back. If a kid is given a car or has their insurance paid for them, then I think the parents are entitled to the security of their "investment," besides the obvious safeguarding of progeny.

As for the government, there should be absolutely no oversight. Ideally, someone should have to do something wrong before coming under scrutiny. While that is certainly not the case (and seemingly less and less so), that does not justify further violating privacy.

If the government paid for the entire transit system (i.e. mass transit) I would accept the spying, but since they only pay for the roads they should continue to patrol only the roads, not the vehicles.

[Lespaul20]

It's hard to choose a side on this issue, both side have very good points, I can somewhat agree with the 100+ MPH in that the diver is sane and under no influence while doing it, along with so many other factors. But to the people who are wholey against the boxs, it's not somthing the gov is MAKING you put in you car, ...yet. I would like to think that boxes, when put in a car of a new and inexperienced driver that it would help them become a more aware and safe driver. I would rather see a driver with 5 years experience going 100+ than a 16 yr old. My 2cents.

[mbossman2]

Originally posted by Colonel Sanders I thinks it's abesolutley stupid. For an employer, it makes sense, but to keep track of your kids? No. If your that worried about them doing something bad in there car/your car, don't let them drive. I know people who don't drive because they got in trouble driving. Everyone deserves some privacy, and by the time your old enough to drive, you should have some privacy. Maybe if you let a 14 year old drive(yes, around here I was even driving at that age)... Even if a 14 year old here gets a license, they may only legally drive out in the country... If you cant trust your kid, don't let them do it. Next will be seeing GPS trackers standard in cars so cops can know exactly when you were speeding, how would you like that? L J

As a parent it is your responsibility to keep your kid as safe as possible, this is a tool to help a parent do that. You may never know that your kid is an unsafe driver until it is too late, this may give you some insight to their behind the wheel behavior and allow you to take steps to correct that behavior.

Yes, children need some privacy but the need for privacy stops at the door that leads to things that can kill or serious hurt them.

trust is something that is earned not automatically given.

Originally posted by Lespaul20 I would rather see a driver with 5 years experience going 100+ than a 16 yr old. My 2cents.

actually i would not. imagine you're travling at the speed limit of 65mph, at a 100mph, closing speed is 35mph and dodging in and out of traffic (to have a clear path) makes you a deadly weapon. if the faster speed car just touches another car, the driver will more than likely lose complete control of his vehicle and the struck car will also more than likely lose it as well (look at nascar sometime, these guys have closing speeds of less than 5 mph and look at the wrecks they get into due to slight impacts...are you suggesting that the average driver with 5 years of experience can deal with what the pros can't?)

[Lespaul20]

mbossman2,
No, i was mearly expanding on james post, I don't think anybody should be driving 100+ in as heavy of traffic as you are describing, I'm just stating that when I was 16 I didn't know as much about how a car handles as I do now, and i still don't know enough to be driving nascar. I was just giving an I had to choose answer.
I still belive it should be up to the parents and the parents who decided if this is an invasion of privacy. Kids these days expect to many things, I sure some of you older folks didn't have a $20,000+ car when they were 16.

[sdkfz]

When it comes to knowing the driving habits of anyone I would pose this question.

1) There is a police strike and so there are NO poliice any kind. Do your driving habits change?
2) Your parents are in the car. Do your driving habits change?
3) There is a police cruiser behind you, just because he happened to be there, Do your driving habits change?
4) You are taking the driving test for your license. Do your driving habits change?

A truthful yes answer by anyone, and not just you Colonel is why something like this is available.

[Lespaul20]

Good point sdkfz, I don't think anybody can't answer yes.