Parents of teen drivers have always been concerned about their kids staying safe behind the wheel. Fortunately, automakers and tech companies have been finding ways to help parents monitor and control young drivers even when they’re not around.

The 2016 Chevy Malibu even has a setting called “Teen Driver.” It provides warnings to drivers if they’re doing things like exceeding the predetermined speed limit. It also provides a Report Card so that parents know exactly how well their child drove on each trip.

The Teen Driver feature is included in the car’s infotainment center. It mutes the stereo system until seat belts are buckled. It also provides a warning if the set speed limit is exceeded. The feature is controlled by a four-digit PIN, so kids can’t deactivate it if they don’t know the PIN.

The Report Card that appears after each trip on the system shows such things as:

— The maximum speed limit reached

— How many “overspeed warnings” were issued

— How many times the stability control system was activated

— How often the forward collision avoidance braking and forward collision alerts were activated.

Of course, all of this requires parental monitoring and involvement. If parents see that their young driver hasn’t been operating the car safely, they can have a talk with him or her and perhaps change the predetermined speed setting.

Too many people suffer catastrophic and fatal injuries every year on Alabama roads at the hands of teen drivers. Sadly, many of these are the teen drivers themselves or their passengers. If you or a loved one has been injured by a teen driver, it’s important to find out what your legal options are to help you get the compensation you need for medical care, therapy and other damages.

Source: Engadget, “Chevy’s new Malibu keeps teens safe from themselves,” Roberto Baldwin, accessed June 23, 2016