How Teen Driver Technology Can Benefit Young Drivers

Since 2015, General Motors has been rolling out its Teen Driver system in its cars. This handy feature is free and acts as a built-in coach for young drivers, helping them develop safe driving habits. It also provides a report card to parents after their teens have taken the family car, truck, or SUV for a spin.

According to research, teen drivers often make risky choices behind the wheel, like skipping the use of seat belts, driving too fast, and blasting music too loudly, all of which can lead to distractions. The Teen Driver program helps tackle these risks and gives parents a way to monitor their teen's driving habits so they can coach them on safer driving practices.

Parental involvement plays a vital role in the Teen Driver system. Parents can adjust the stereo's max volume to what they think is appropriate. To help keep their teens from speeding, they can set a speed warning that alerts them when they hit speeds between 40 and 75 mph. If the car goes over this limit, the system will give the teen driver both visual and sound warnings to slow down. Parents also have the option to cap the vehicle's top speed at 85 mph.

Setting up the Teen Driver feature is a breeze. Just find the Teen Driver option on your car's infotainment screen. Next, you'll need to set up a personal identification number (PIN) and link it to a key fob. After that, the Teen Driver system will kick in automatically whenever you start the car with that key.

Like any car safety feature, Teen Driver won't stop every risky driving scenario. It's designed to work alongside solid driving lessons from a seasoned adult. But it's great to have a way to remind your young driver to wear their seatbelt, stick to the speed limit, and keep the music at a chill level, even when you're not in the passenger seat.

Useful Features of Teen Driver Technology

There are some optional features you can add to Teen Driver systems to customize these according to your needs. These include:

Buckle Up to Drive: This nifty feature reminds your teen driver to buckle up before hitting the road. It's unique in the industry and stops unbuckled drivers from shifting out of Park mode for 20 seconds. It also gives them sound and visual alerts to ensure they strap in.

In-Vehicle Report Card: This addition provides an in-vehicle report card so you can check out how your teen was driving when you weren't around.

GM Teen Driver Technology You Can Count On

Currently, technology like Teen Driver can be found only on GM systems. It's either included as a standard feature or as an add-on. This feature is packed with useful tools aimed at helping your teen drive safely and confidently:

Speed Warning: The system can provide an audio and visual alert when the car hits the speed limit you've decided on.

Speed Limiter: This feature lets you cap the Chevy's speed at a max of 85 mph.

Audio Limit: Remember those fun times cruising with friends while blasting your favorite songs? You can set a maximum volume level so your teen driver can maintain focus on the road even with the music on.

Seat Belt Audio Mute: This innovative little function will mute the car’s audio until both the driver and front passenger fasten their seatbelts.

Visit Best Chevrolet To Find a Vehicle with Teen Driver Technology

The revamped 2016 Chevrolet Malibu was the first model from General Motors to feature Teen Driver. Since that launch, GM has rolled out Teen Driver as standard in almost all of its Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC vehicles. The best part about this feature is that it's available at no extra cost as long as you own the car.

Ready to explore your options for a new Chevrolet with Teen Driver tech? Best Chevrolet in Kenner, LA, is the place to find the perfect ride for young drivers. Reach out to us today to set up a visit to our showroom. Don't forget to bring your teen so you can take a test drive together and see which model they vibe with the most.