While parents can't keep a constant eye on their children's driving, the public can. Through a nationwide program called Teen Arrive Alive and other local programs, parents can put a bumper sticker on their vehicle akin to the “How's my driving?” sticker on commercial vehicles. Motorists can call a toll-free number and leave a message relaying any erratic driving behavior. The message is immediately routed to the parents via a phone call or email. Parents can also access a report through the organization's Web site, http://www.TeenArriveAlive.com , according to a statement from the organization. A similar program is in effect in northeast Texas. Shawn Graham, president of Your Message Center, started the service after her daughter became legal to drive, according to a story in the Texarkana Gazette. Graham charges $5.00 a month flat fee for the service, called Your Driver Report. The Teen Arrive Alive program also uses technology to track teens. Using a cell phone enabled with Global Positioning Satellite capabilities, parents can go online and see a map of where their teen is, what direction they are traveling, and how fast they are driving. They can also retrieve location and speed information from any telephone, according to the organization. Parents have the option of allowing their teen to also receive immediate notification that a report was received on the teen's decal. If teens are equipped with a cell phone that accepts MP3 ring-tone downloads they need not answer their cell phone while driving -- the ring-tone notifies them of a report on their decal (or a voice message is broadcast from the speaker function on certain phones) in an effort to immediately modify the driver's behavior before an accident occurs. One enterprising parent joked on the Internet about taking advantage of his son's erratic driving. He'd get a "How's my driving?" bumper sticker and put a 900 number on it. At 50 cents a call, he figures to make $38 a week.
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