Monday, January 25, 2010

Benefits Of A Vehicle Tracking System

By Todd Cavanaugh

A vehicle tracking system offers many benefits for every member of the family and in every family vehicle. Whether you place vehicle tracking system devices in farm equipment, construction vehicles, recreational vehicles or even children's vehicles, the ability to find a vehicle instantly is beneficial in more circumstances than car theft.

The obvious use of a vehicle tracking system is to locate the vehicle if it is stolen. Installation of a device will provide real time location of the car. Some systems will even tell you if the vehicle is in a garage or parking deck. Because these devices make finding a stolen vehicle so much easier and faster for police to locate, insurance companies offer discounts of five to fifteen percent when they are installed.

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 also be used for spying or tracking the activities of family members. This benefit can, of course, have both positive and negative implications. You can use it to track the movements and activities of teenagers or of a spouse if you have reason to suspect them of undesirable activity. But there are several very positive uses, as well. A vehicle tracking system in the car of an aging parent or a parent with Alzheimer's Disease can protect their autonomy while assuring you that their driving is safe or knowing where they are at all times in case they become lost.

The ability of some vehicle tracking system equipment to track driving habits can also make them a valuable driving instruction tool for teens or other new drivers. Your system can be programmed to track driving speed, cornering speed, how quickly the driver accelerates after a stop, idle time at a location, and other safe and efficient driving habits.

Reviewing driving practices can help a new driver improve their skills quickly and efficiently. Safe and efficient driving habits by all drivers can reduce fuel consumption, reduce fuel costs, and help to protect the environment. Some vehicle tracking system equipment can even be programmed to provide an alert when it is time for the engine to be serviced and when the tires are improperly inflated.

Your vehicle tracking system will also include GPS driving directions. Use of directions will save time and provide the most direct or the shortest route to your destination. Some systems also provide the most efficient route. You might choose a high-end vehicle tracking system that not only includes directions, but includes capabilities to provide voice directions and to monitor traffic along the route and notify you if there is an accident or traffic jam ahead. It can then provide an alternate route. Many parents choose this option because it prevents teen drivers from becoming lost when they need to detour around traffic.

Finally, a vehicle tracking system can provide the option of "geo-fencing" to define limits or boundaries for safety. This can be used, for example, to notify you if a teenager enters an unapproved part of town. It can also be used to provide an alert if an aging parent leaves a customary location.

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.

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