Latest technology put parents in their teen's car

CASTLE PINES – 17-year-old Shanel Perry puts on her make-up while she gets ready for Friday night. She plans on driving two friends to a football game, then to wherever the night takes them afterwards. That's OK with her parents, because in a way, they will be there.

"Like any parent, you watch your kid take off in your car going down the street, (it) creates a lot of anxiety," said Mike Perry, Shanel's father.

Mike and his wife Bev signed their family up for the Teen Safe Driving Program now being offered by American Family Insurance.

American Family will install a recording device called DriveCam behind the rear-view mirror of a teenager's car. The camera is not always recording, but it is always on. Whenever the car experiences a sudden shift in G-forces, the camera will record audio and video both inside and outside the car.

The DriveCam then transmits a video and audio file to a secure Web page which parents can view the next day. They can see what happened 10 seconds before and 10 seconds after the event which triggered the camera.

Shanel knows exactly what will trigger the camera.

"Pressing on the brakes, speeding really fast, swerving," she said.

"You're getting information that you would never be able to see as a parent," said Mike.

Shanel says she was nervous, at first, about the idea of putting a camera in her car. Then she realized it was for her own good.

"I don't have anything to hide from my parents," said Shanel. "But, it helps me realize what I need to start doing."

"I really as a parent felt that safety trumped that privacy," said Mike.

The video and audio are so clear, Mike and Bev can tell when Shanel plays her music too loud or when she's distracted by talking with her friends or when she had to hit the brakes extra hard to avoid hitting a car driving while drowsy after a long day at school

"I can say 'Shanel, in the video, it looks like you're about ready to fall asleep and that's very, very unsafe in that car,'" said Mike.

The Teen Safe Driver Program also includes a driving coach with the DriveCam company reviewing the videos and offering advice to teenagers about what they did wrong, what factors increased the risk of having an accident, and what they can do to correct the problem. A report card is then sent to parents with a score indicating how safely their teen was driving for the week.

"I never even realize I'm doing all this stuff, but it just happens," said Shanel.

"We want her to learn to drive right," said Bev. "We feel safe when she's out with the camera."

American Family is offering this system to its customers for free. Families can sign up for a one year program and no matter what happens, it won't affect their premiums.

"We do not get the data. We do not use the data in way with regards to rates," said Rob Medor, American Family Insurance Agent. "It's not our business."

Medor says American Family is offering this $1,000 value for free because his company just wants teenagers to become better drivers. Plus, he says in states where they tested the DriveCam system, claims dropped by more than 70 percent from families using the system.

"It really creates 100 percent seat belt usage," said Medor. "The teen driving cam puts mom and dad back in the car, so to speak."

Shanel is aware of it. Several times after triggering the camera, she speaks to it or makes faces knowing her parents are watching because a red flickers on the device when it's on. But, it's that awareness that her parents say is making her a more responsible driver.

"It's a light that's reinforcing it which is basically my proxy in that car," said Mike.

Shanel says her goal now is to drive well enough to not set the camera off.

"When I watch the videos, I didn't realize, that's how fast I was going or I turn the corner that fast," she said. "Because my parents can see it, that's made me a better driver."

Mike and Bev say that's exactly what gives them peace of mind. In addition, the DriveCam comes with a feature where Shanel can turn the camera on at anytime, especially if she is being harassed by someone.

"I love that," said Bev. "It's her little panic button."

"Once you've hit it, it's going," said Medor. "So, I think you've put an end to maybe something that could escalate into something worse."

The DriveCam is not a GPS tracker. It won't tell you where the driver is. And, when 9NEWS followed Shanel out with her friends on Friday night, it didn't stop her from looking at a text message while driving, cruising at about 15 miles per hour faster than the speed limit or dancing in her car at a stoplight with the music blaring.

But, Shanel did take turns a bit slower and she did drive well enough to not set the device off while with her friends that night.

"I know that if any of my friends had that in their car, they would not do what they do," said Shanel.

Mike and Bev hope it will keep Shanel and her friends from doing other things in the car they're not supposed to like drink. And, it's forcing Mike and Bev to have meaningful conversations with Shanel, making them a stronger family.

"I think it should be offered to all parents," said Mike. "If I ever have any question of what they were doing the night before, I can always go on Saturday morning and look at the video."