Keep an Eye on Young Drivers

OnBoard InSight

Parents Can Play Spy Games

When I hit driving age, there were occasionally things going on in the car that I did not want my parents to know about. I’m sure for that reason (at least in part), a handful of in-vehicle video systems are now being introduced. How very exciting for voyeuristic parents everywhere!

OnBoard Systems has two in-vehicle video system products. Pay attention, parents — this is your chance to catch your daughter picking up that slimeball you told her not to hang out with. OBS has a system called InSight and it records event-based happenings — i.e., your daughter’s thuggish crush getting into the car, with the recording triggered by his opening and closing the door, or your son’s accident, triggered by the slamming of the brakes and impact. The other video system, HD1, records everything, from start to finish. I’m so glad that didn’t exist when I was a teen!

Brian Singer, President and CEO of OBS, told me that both InSight and HD1 include four cameras and a couple of microphones, strategically placed throughout the car’s interior. Each also has a recorder-like box that you can have installed in an inconspicuous location, like in the trunk or under a seat. Once your teen pulls back into the garage after a night out, you can take the Secure Digital card out of the InSight device, or the hard drive out of an HD1, pop some popcorn and let the show begin. You might see and hear your daughter complaining to her gum-chomping friend how seriously peeved she is at you for not buying her those Manolos that she, like, totally deserved. You might catch Junior’s pals shotgunning beers in the back seat. Heck, you might even have video proof for the insurance company that the accident really wasn’t Junior’s fault, just like he said!

In that vein, this product has uses beyond just spying on your teen. It can capture images of the ruffian who breaks into your car or even the cad who thinks he’s getting away with an “innocent” parking lot hit-and-run that leaves your taillight smushed. No one will be able to get away with anything.

OBS is hoping that stores like Target will carry its products, but in the meantime, you can visit www.obsusa.com to learn more or to purchase one for yourself. Prices range from about $1,200 to $1,500. While I think that’s high (and Singer says they’re looking at pricing) the 2,000 people worldwide who have already purchased InSight or HD1 systems seem to contradict my price sensitivity. I guess for some people there is no price too high to make a poignant film that may even teach a lesson.