When my sons started driving I thought that I'd never sleep again. I still think that watching your teen getting into a car to drive is the scariest stage of parenthood. And the advent of cell phones has made it so much worse.

When I attended the Consumer Electronics Show last month, I came across three services, each somewhat different, yet they all had one thing in common, they all had a feature that helped prevent car accidents. You can see which service makes the most sense for your family.

1. CellControl - Stops Texting While Driving - A 2012 CES innovation award winner.

All you do is plub the unit into the car. Download the software onto the phone of the driver. The Cellcontrol-protected phones detect the signal and usage is blocked when driving.

CellControl can also send parents information on how your teens is driving. You can sign up to have excess speed alerts and find out when and how far the car was driven.


2. Safely - Growing Independence - Guide How Your Kids Call and Text

Safely is not only about driving. Safely offers 4 different services:

1. Phone controls - guide how your kids call and text
2. GPS locator - locate your family members on a map at any time
3. Social Monitor - Monitor your kids on Facebook
4. DRIVE - This is the feature that is somewhat similar to that of CellControl - Drive detects motion, locks the phone, and redirets calls and texts until your teens stops driving. However it is only available on Sprint Androids. 

3. SafeKey - A Simple Deterrent to Impaired Driving and Auto Theft

Impairment is not about texting. And it is not only about drinking and drugs, which is a problem. Teens often don't get enough sleep and I've known of many accidents caused by drivers falling asleep at the wheel. SafeKey is a unique ignition key immobilizer. The SafeKey security system on the "key fob" is a series of flashing lights that the driver must respond to. If the driver is too impaired to respond correctly after 3 tries, the driver must wait an hour to try again and will not be able to start the car. This is something that everyone should have, not only families with teens.

Whatever you need to do, please keep your teens safe and keep our roads safe. Impress upon your teens that when they drive they should not be doing anything else. And make a good example for them when you drive. Both your lives depend upon it.

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