Franks Endorses GPS Teen Tracker

Retired General Likes Idea Of Keeping Tabs On Driving Habits

(AP)  Retired Gen. Tommy Franks has signed on to be the spokesman for a company that uses global positioning system technology in teens' cell phones to let parents know how fast they're driving.

Franks will be the official face of Teen Arrive Alive. The organization aims to get teens to carry a cell phone containing a GPS chip that sends out regular signals letting parents know where they are and how fast they're going.

If a certain predetermined speed limit is passed, an alarm will go off in the cell phone and parents will be notified.

A bumper sticker on the teen's car enables drivers to report reckless behavior. Both the teen and his or her parents are then notified by phone or e-mail that a negative driving report has come in.

"As a parent, I know it is not only my right, but also my responsibility to keep an eye on and protect my children," Franks said. "If I know where my kids are, where they're going, how they're driving and how fast they're traveling, I can counsel them before an accident occurs. I can help protect them."

As commander of U.S. Central Command based at nearby MacDill Air Force, Franks directed the invasion of Iraq.