Parents no longer have to give up control when their child drives away thanks to new technology that balances parents' concerns for safety with the freedom their young adult needs. Personal GPS locators such as Zoombak, found at retailers like Radio Shack, Pep Boys and Target, allow parents to quickly monitor and determine a car's location in real time, even from their cell phones.

A personal GPS locator allows parents to set up "safety zones" around any location including schools, homes or malls. The locator sends a text message or e-mail alert when the vehicle enters or exits one of these zones and can even send alerts when the car exceeds a designated speed limit. Because these locators can also aid in the recovery of a stolen car, many insurance companies offer a discount for using them. For parents, a personal GPS locator can let them know that their teen has safely navigated the hazards of the road while allowing teens to gain their parents' trust in a "hands off" manner.

Building trust with your teen driver does not have to be a one-way street. Thanks to open communication and some modern technology, parents of teen drivers no longer have to wonder what their teens are doing when they hand over the keys.