Parents’ Usage of Commercially Available Mobile Phone Applications for Teen Drivers: What Is Working?

Abstract

Recent years have shown increasing popularity in a particular type of mobile phone application, or app: parent-teen driver performance monitoring apps. A growing body of research suggests that feedback and post hoc intervention of teen driving can be used as a tool to influence behavioral changes in driving. Commercially available apps for smartphones that incorporate telematics data (i.e., vehicle speed, hard braking, and GPS location) are a trending way for parents to be able to track their teens’ driving. Previous research provides many insights into how teens perceive driver monitoring apps and what role these apps play in improving driving behavior (Gesser-Edelsburg & Guttman, 2013; Peer et al., 2020). Teen driver monitoring apps can provide teens with tangible proof of their driving behavior that either demonstrates positive safe driving behavior or targets areas where constructive criticism on risky behavior is merited. Teens often feel driver monitoring apps are a more objective and unbiased way to monitor their driving with evidence compared to their parents’ perceptions. On the other hand, these apps can also be viewed by teens as an extension of parental supervision, as well as an invasion of privacy and a restriction of their independence. Parents greatly influence their teens’ behavior whether they are behind the wheel or not. Parents have a unique role as the main enforcers for what the states may require for licensing rules. Parents have their own views regarding the driving risks that their teens face and may use these driver monitoring apps in different ways. This project aimed to understand what information parents of teen drivers want to see and use on a driving monitoring app and what they find useful for enabling the most effective feedback relationship with their teen. The research team worked with stakeholders to develop survey tools to help better understand parents’ and teens’ attitudes, preferences, and needs regarding app-based driving feedback. The survey was administered by State Farm using their survey software (Suzy) to collect data nationally, including research participants from U.S. territories. Suzy can filter by gender, age, employment, education, income, and location. The questions took different forms, including multiple choice, Likert scales, open ended, and ranking questions. A total of 649 responses were received. It was found that parents generally check monitoring apps the most during the following conditions: locating their teen, situations at certain times of the day, or when they know their teen is driving through bad weather. Parents are using monitoring apps to know where their teen is located, to see if their teen is speeding while driving, and to see the location where the teen is driving. Parents responded that the alerts they prefer from the monitoring apps include crash alerts, speeding alerts, and safe arrival notifications.