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One of the most traumatic days for any parent is the day when a teenager gets behind the wheel of a car for the first time. Almost every parent experiences worry and fear at some level for their son or daughter’s safety. Many parents are concerned about the potential injury that can be caused by other drivers around their children. But a number of parents fear that their teen’s inexperience and immaturity will turn them into the hazard. To deal with their fears that their own children may be driving poorly or recklessly, some parents use GPS technology to track the vehicles that their teens drive. This has been met with quite a bit of controversy.

One device used for parental tracking is called the Trackstick Mini GPS. This isn’t a direction-finder like a TomTom or Garmin. Instead, the Trackstick Mini sends a signal that users can use to track vehicle speed and location. The device logs movements and parents can use a computer program that plots their children’s driving on a Google Maps image. For many parents, this is a relief. It allows them to know that their son or daughter is driving safely and, if not, it gives them accurate information to correct poor driving. Parents see the Trackstick as a tool that allows them to raise their children well and ensure their children’s safety.

However, many people respond that this kind of tracking is an invasion of teens’ privacy. They call the Trackstick Mini “a spy device” and claim that teenagers deserve privacy away from their parents’ watchful eyes. They sometimes argue that a parent and teen relationship should be governed by trust, not by spying. Opponents sometimes admit that such tracking would be helpful, but they believe that privacy concerns trump safety.

People on both sides of this debate offer powerful arguments for their cases. Opponents of the Trackstick decry “secret spying,” while those in favor proclaim its safety benefits. Many parents are using this device with a balanced perspective: they make sure their teens know about the tracking device and keep their trust by not secretly spying on them. Of course, the bottom line for this debate is that every home is different. This should not be settled by laws and regulations, but by allowing each family to work together and decide what works best in their own home.

Article Written by Mark Rammel