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A Parents Guide to Modeling Good Driver Behavior

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OrbitU

A Parents Guide to Modeling Good Driver Behavior

August 12, 2021

It’s important to have a conversation with your teenager about driving safety. Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death for teenagers in the United States, according to the CDC. The majority of car accidents can be avoided, so talking to your teen and being an example of healthy driving habits can make a huge difference. Here is a guide to how you can do just that.

Discuss the Rules of the Road

Make a commitment to always follow state laws and other important safe driving habits. This includes wearing your seatbelts, obeying the speed limit, maintaining constant attention on the road, pulling over if you are too tired to drive, and never driving while intoxicated or using a mobile phone. If crashes aren’t what scare you, then educate your teens about the hefty fines that can pile up from bad driving habits.

Review driving habits in OrbitU

Track and discuss your family’s driving habits on a weekly basis. After each completed drive, the app displays instances of mobile phone use, rapid acceleration, hard braking, and top speed reached. A weekly driving overview for each family member is a quick way to sit down and discuss whether everyone is adhering to safe driving protocol.

Avoid Distractions

Make sure that you keep your eyes on the road at all times. You wouldn’t want your teen to end up in an accident because of distracted driving from a text, so you should be fully aware of the road as well. Although you may have more driving experience, one little mistake for either of you could have a lifetime of unfavorable consequences. If your phone or car has features that can let others know you are driving, make sure those are set up so you can show your teen how to have a distraction-free drive.

Emphasize the Dangers of Intoxicated Driving

When your teen gets a little older, they may want to go out for a drink with their friends in college. Teach them early on that driving with alcohol in your system can be extremely dangerous. In 2019, there were over 10,000 deaths from drunk driving according to the NHTSA, many of which took the lives of those under the age of 25. Everyone has a different alcohol tolerance, however, tempting fate prior to driving is never a smart idea. Teach teens how to handle certain situations and encourage them to use OrbitU so parents know where they are.

Show your teen the importance of being a responsible driver by following safe habits of your own. Although they still might make mistakes, at least you’ve shown them how to be a safe & responsible driver.

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Using OrbitU as a Family 

By Blogs

OrbitU

Using OrbitU as a Family

August 12, 2021

At OrbitU, users often share about how they use the app, whether it’s to keep in touch with their families or to gain peace of mind by tracking new teen drivers. Our goal at OrbitU is to bring families closer together, and we agree that each family member’s physical, emotional, and mental well-being is vital to the happiness and wellbeing of the entire family. In this post, we’re concentrating on families and the important role OrbitU can play in their lives.

Here are some guidelines on how your family can discuss and use OrbitU.

Concentrate on why OrbitU is important

Always be transparent and truthful with your teenagers so they don’t think you’re spying on them and instead see OrbitU’s services for what it is: a tool that facilitates protection and communication.

When the older kids want to go off on their own, the app gives a parent peace of mind. Giving teenagers the freedom to explore is vital, but it doesn’t make one any less concerned. A parent can keep an eye on them knowing where they are with OrbitU while also allowing them to enjoy their independence.

Instead of enforcing harsh consequences, you can use OrbitU as a supportive tool to ensure the best for your family and start healthy discussions.

Create expectations

What is your family’s routine to decide if it’s okay to turn it off a Bubble? Is it necessary to send a text to Mom or Dad? Is it necessary for your teen to get permission first? What about you, as a mom, do you think? Would there ever be a time when you turn off Location Sharing, and if so, how would your children know what to expect? Early on, talk about these types of issues and desires.

Emphasize safe driving habits

While drivers in your family may believe they are invincible, make sure they are aware of the laws in your state and that car accidents can change people’s lives in an instant. Examine the latest findings and data on distracted driving and other concerning habits. For example, that texting while driving takes your eyes off the road for only five seconds, which is enough time to drive the length of a football field.

Included with each of OrbitU’s packages, drives are tracked and show instances of cell phone use, rapid acceleration, hard braking, and top speed reached. A weekly driving overview for each family member is a quick way to sit down and discuss whether everyone is adhering to your family’s safe driving pledge.

Talk about it.

All questions and concerns should be heard and valued. As a family, have open and frank discussions about the advantages and disadvantages of monitoring location and driving habits. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

  • What are the reasons we use OrbitU as a family?
  • When Location Sharing is switched on or off, what are the expectations?
  • How much do we plan to use OrbitU to monitor each other’s whereabouts?

Both parents and teens will benefit from OrbitU’s peace of mind and independence. Keep having open discussions about how OrbitU can be used in your family, what the expectations are, and what the boundaries are for each family member to get the most out of your experience.

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Top Cell Phone Rules for Teens

By Blogs

OrbitU

Top Cell Phone Rules for Teens

August 12, 2021

Your little one is all grown up and ready to be independent. For them, it is an extremely exciting time, while for you it might stir up some concern. This is especially true when you’ve heard countless stories of accidents with teens behind the wheel.

It’s no secret that teenagers are always attached to their phones. Teens today are part of a generation that grew up with the ability to connect with an entire world of people on a device that fits in the palm of your hand (well, for the most part.) 

Even though they may know the dangers, some teens may still be tempted to text and drive. According to the CDC, about 285,000 teens were treated in emergency departments in 2018 and almost 2,500 teens died in crashes that same year. Additionally, a 2019 National Youth Risk Behavior Survey revealed that 39% of U.S. high school students texted or emailed while driving at least once.

Before your teen hits the road to explore new adventures, have a conversation about cell phone usage in the car.

Set Up the “Do Not Disturb” Feature on Your Phone

This feature is extremely useful in making sure a phone’s ding doesn’t distract your young driver to quickly reach their phone. It’s rare to receive a message that needs an immediate response. In the instance you need to reach your teenager immediately, set up your contact using the emergency bypass feature so that if the phone does ding, they will know mom or dad needs something important but they can answer it when they reach their destination or a safe spot to reply.

Download OrbitU

OrbitU’s safety features give parents of teen drivers peace of mind to know what they do in the car. The app’s driver reports will take a screenshot of the users’ activity to show their speed, phone usage, miles traveled, and more. OrbitU also notifies users if a crash has occurred and connects emergency services to the scene. Other features, such as curfew alerts and family driving history, can be unlocked by paying an inexpensive annual fee. For more information, visit (INSERT LINK)

Make Calls using Bluetooth

Most vehicles manufactured since the mid-2010’s are equipped with a Bluetooth feature. This is to help users not mess with their phones while driving. Encourage your teen not to take calls while driving unless it is an emergency, such as calling you to make sure they are on their way home. While one still has their eyes on the road while calling, their awareness isn’t as strong because they are also thinking about the conversation. If your teen must take a call, make sure to keep it as short and simple as possible so that they can safely arrive at their destination.

Don’t Focus Too Much on Your Car Tunes

Driving in silence can be uncomfortable, so putting on the radio or your favorite playlist can make the ride more enjoyable. However, some people can get distracted jamming out to their favorite songs. Encourage your teen to keep their sound at a reasonable volume and to make sure that their music does not distract them from driving. We all love to make a silly air guitar or pretend we’re on stage, but doing that while driving is not the safest option.

It’s natural to worry about your teen’s safety as they explore the world on their own through friendships, jobs, and other opportunities. Establishing ground rules is important to ensure they are responsible drivers, not only for their own safety but for the safety of others as well.

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How OrbitU Can Keep Your Family Safer on the Road

By Blogs

OrbitU

How OrbitU Can Keep Your Family Safer on the Road

August 12, 2021

As soon as you leave your house, the world is full of possibilities. Having an inexperienced driver on the road can be stressful for a lot of parents concerned for their teen’s safety. According to the CDC, crash risk is highest during the first-year drivers are licensed (CDC, 2018.) OrbitU helps to put a family’s mind at ease with their incredible technology to make sure that your loved ones are safe on the road and the places they go.

How does OrbitU keep your family safer on the road? The OrbitU app monitors users’ location in real-time when shared and can notify other family members when someone has left or arrived at their destination. Additionally, OrbitU has excellent safety features that detect unusual activity such as increased speed or an accident. No one wants to get a phone call saying their loved one is hurt, but OrbitU’s safety features will assist in making sure family members are notified and that help is on the way.

One of OrbitU’s additional features includes driving summaries and reports for each user, which snapshots stats such as time traveled, phone usage, top speed, and more. This is particularly useful for your independent teen that may not worry as much about distracted drivers on the road.

Whether you have a new or experienced driver on the road, worry can set in about if they are safe or not. OrbitU has various enhanced features that come at an inexpensive price. Whether you live out in the rural country or navigate through the busy city streets, OrbitU will keep watch over your loved ones to make sure you know they are safe.

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