Topic: U of M Seeks Teen Drivers for Study
started by: nlmorris
Posted by nlmorris on Apr. 30 2013,2:15 pm
Albert Lea has been selected as a recruitment location for a teen driver study being conducted by the University of Minnesota.The purpose of the project is to understand how technology may be used to improve teen driver safety and to enhance parental involvement with their teens during the learning phase of driving.
The university seeks to recruit 20 teen drivers from Albert Lea who currently have their driver's permit, will receive their provisional driver’s license between May 1st and May 31st, 2013, are age 16 at that time, and are able to begin the study within one month of their licensure start date.
As part of the study, teens will receive a free Samsung Galaxy S3 smartphone and monthly data, text and talk service plan for one year. Additionally, teens will receive a monthly $25 incentive at the end of the year-long study totaling $300. For more information, contact Nichole Morris at nlmorris@umn.edu or call 612-624-4614.
Posted by MADDOG on Apr. 30 2013,2:48 pm
Let me understand this. You are studying how technology may be used to improve teen driver safety during the learning phase of driving and will reward them with a new smart cell phone and a years worth of free texting and talking?Isn't that kind of like locking them in a wine cellar to study the affects of teen drinking and rewarding them with a cork screw?
Posted by Self-Banished on Apr. 30 2013,4:48 pm
Oh our institutions of higher learning 
Posted by MADDOG on Apr. 30 2013,6:51 pm
(Self-Banished @ Apr. 30 2013,4:48 pm)
QUOTE
Oh our institutions of higher learning
< What? >
Posted by MADDOG on May 03 2013,2:03 pm
Gee SB, she must not want to play with us anymore? You might have liked her too. One of her specialties is examining the mental processes that prohibit perfect time-sharing of driving and secondary tasks.Any secondary tasks you can do while driving?
Posted by Self-Banished on May 03 2013,8:01 pm
Every time I have to wait for some idiot talking on their cell when the light turns green I have the thought " I need louder horns" 
Posted by White Pride on May 04 2013,2:35 pm
The best two things that can be done for teen driver safety is to monitor the performance via the OBDII datalink interface available on all cars today, and have a cell phone jammer installed. These two items can be incorporated into one device, that the parent has control over, and installs into the vehicle. Without this device, the vehicle will not run. When installed, it senses when the ignition is on, and enables the cellular jammer. The parent can easily remove this device and hook to their personal computer to check the logs for:speed
braking habits
acceleration habits
gps locations
time behind the wheel
etc.
Who's with me on this?
Posted by MADDOG on May 04 2013,9:57 pm
I can see where you may think this is a good thing.But...
Posted by Self-Banished on May 05 2013,4:38 am
A week or so ago the state patrol had troopers riding around the cities in a school bus, wonderful observation platform. I didn't hear how many the caught but for the ones that were caught I hope they got a hefty fine, even suspension.