A vehicle tracking system consists of a device placed in a car,
truck, boat, RV, ATV or other vehicle which works with tracking software
or a tracking service to locate the vehicle if it should be lost or
stolen. This is the most basic function of a vehicle tracking system.
But there are many other benefits of installing a GPS tracking device in
all of your family's vehicles.
Locating a stolen vehicle is the
most obvious use of a vehicle tracking system. It could save enough time
for police to be able to apprehend the thief before the vehicle is
damaged. It is such a valuable tool in finding stolen vehicles that
insurance companies offer discounts on auto insurance of 5 - 15% if a
device is installed in a vehicle. For some families, it will also make
sense to install a simple tracking device in every farm, construction or
recreational vehicle also.
When installed in a car, a vehicle
tracking system can also identify and alert you to erratic driving. This
might mean a thief is trying to escape the area where the car was
stolen. It might also mean something is medically wrong with the person
driving the vehicle. The devices that include a camera installed on the
dash board can even allow you to identify the driver.
A vehicle
tracking system can be used to spy on a spouse or a teen aged driver. But
there are other very positive advantages to installing a fairly
sophisticated system in your cars. For example, if you think your
teenager is spending too much time in the wrong places, you can track
and document their activities. Placed in the vehicle of an aging parent,
you could be alerted to the kind of driving that would indicate a
medical emergency (such as heart attack or stroke) or would help you
know that a parent with minor memory or other cognitive problems is
safe.
Some vehicle tracking system equipment is also able to track
driving habits. It might, for example, track and record driving speed,
cornering speed, tailgating, too rapid acceleration after a stop,
failure to come to a complete stop, and more. This information could be
used to help a new driver become a safer and more fuel-efficient driver.
Periodic
reviews of driving habits can be both informative and instructive for
any driver, but especially for new drivers. It can help every family
member cut fuel consumption, saving money and the environment at the
same time. Some vehicle tracking system software can even be programmed
to let you know when it is time for regular engine servicing or when the
tires are affecting fuel economy because they are not inflated
properly.
The GPS driving directions provided with your vehicle
tracking system will also have benefits for your family. Each driver
will be able to find the most fuel efficient, the fastest or the most
direct route to each destination. You can eliminate the worry of a
family member getting lost in the wrong neighborhood and being in
danger. With some systems you can also use the GPS tracking to monitor
the route and provide both an alert and a detour if there is an accident
or other traffic slowdown ahead.
The geo-fencing option in many
systems can be used in several ways. You can use it to "geo-fence" areas
customarily traveled by your family so that you will receive an alert
if the vehicle leaves the 'fenced' zone. Geo-fencing can also be used to
protect aging parents or teen aged drivers.
There are clearly many
ways to use the various features of a vehicle tracking system to
protect your family and your property. You can also benefit through
insurance rate reductions, fuel cost savings, and the knowledge that
your family members are becoming safer drivers. Above all, knowing you
are doing everything possible to protect your family and to be able to
respond as quickly as possible if there is a problem, is the best reason
to install a vehicle tracking system.
