New Toyota App Relies On Shaming Your Little Snowflake Into Being A Better Driver

Teen drivers have the highest crash rate of any demographic. Younger drivers are most likely to use their phones while driving or speed in high-traffic areas, and roughly half of all accidents associated with younger drivers were single-vehicle crashes. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, motor-vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among individuals under 20.

Keeping younger drivers safe is a major concern for institutions like the National Safety Council, but some automakers have their own initiatives. Toyota, for example, had TeenDrive365, which provided a series of online videos aimed at encouraging safer driving habits. While the automaker abandoned that program after 2014, resulting in all of its content mysteriously vanishing, Toyota still seems keen on keeping young motorists on the road and out of the morgue.

However, what’s the best way to encourage responsible driving? Teens don’t like being placated, and they probably know the laws better than older drivers (as they’ve passed their written test far more recently). With this in mind, Toyota thinks humiliation may be the key. The automaker has made mortifying easily embarrassed teens the central theme of its new safety app.

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TomM - 8/21/2017 12:43:41 PM

+2 Boost

I am sure that it is electronically possible to prevent a phone from working in a moving car - although that would also turn off the passengers in the back seat - but if it kept Nancy safer - I would be onboard. Maybe it could be part of the Chevy system which could be turned on by a parent for the kids when using the car. Big-Brother YES - but that's what great grandfathers are for.

TheSteve - 8/21/2017 1:46:32 PM

+2 Boost

Isn't the term "snowflake", when used in a derogatory context, now a Right-Wing Extremist trademark? When I hear it spoken/written in that context, I've been conditioned to just roll my eyes dismissively and go, "oh, 'one of those' again." :-/

CANADIANCOMMENTS - 8/21/2017 3:06:20 PM

+2 Boost

Big insurance co's are doing the same thing. Let an app monitor your driving and earn points and badges to get a % discount. You need to drive like a monk to get above 5%. Let alone earn 25%.