Before cell phones became quite as accessible as they are now (remember back in the day when car phones were all the rage?), we still had plenty to keep us distracted while driving: talking to other people, loud music, eating while attempting to navigate on the highways and byways.

Oh, but then there came cell phones and becoming an at-risk driver significantly increased. Not only are we able to talk on the phone (while still trying to pay attention to the roads), but “thanks” to the texting feature, many of us are tempted to try and type and drive simultaneously. And, as many reports and even commercials have revealed, that combination has proven to cause many car accidents and in several cases, even been a fatal mix.

The good news is that according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 2011 brought about a year of lower fatalities due to car collisions since 1949; there were 32, 367 in 2011 and 30, 246 in 1949. The bad news is that’s still 32, 367 too many and so there are still proactive steps that need to be taken to insure safer driving, especially as it relates to the teens and young adults who are on the driving (and yes, in many cases, opting to use their cell phones while doing so).

That’s where the Canary app comes in.

Whether your child owns an Android or an iPhone, Canary makes it possible for you to load the app up onto their phone for the purpose of tracking their driving. When it comes to the amount of tracking that you can do with Canary, it is sure to put many parent’s minds at ease.

When the phone with the app feature is moving faster than 12 miles per hour, a text is sent from the phone to alert you (currently, that is an Android-only feature). Oh, but that’s not the only alerts that a parent (or guardian) is given. The app also lets parents know when their child is driving faster than the speed limit, when they are driving outside of an area that has already been pre-approved by their parents and also when a child is not home by the set curfew (pretty amazing, right?).

Basically, if a parent is nervous about letting their child drive alone, the Canary app provides a certain amount of peace and comfort because next to being in the passenger’s seat with their teen, it’s the next best thing.

And while the teen with the app may feel like it’s discouraging them from using their phone, the makers of the app believe that it’s simply a device that encourages them to do what all drivers should strive to do: be more aware and more responsible.

The app is free for the first seven days and after that, the subscription is $7.99. So, while you’re out purchasing accessories like car covers and a Bluetooth for your child, this is just one more thing to add to your list. Without question, it’s a wonderful way to help to keep them on the roads while preventing them from becoming …a driving statistic.