Seattle ? The days may be over when a 16-year-old could get a little privacy, even a few miles of adventure, behind the wheel of the family car.

Safeco Insurance is launching a program called “Teensurance,” in which parents can monitor their children’s driving with a small global-positioning device, fastened to the dashboard.

A Web site lets parents set limits, so if the car goes over a certain speed, or ventures too far from home or school, a message is automatically sent. Parents can request a cell phone call, text message or e-mail.

Or, they can locate the car using an online map. They can request a message when the car reaches school or some other destination.

Seattle-based Safeco announced Tuesday it will offer the technology to policyholders nationwide, starting June 27, for an introductory fee of $14.99 a month. There are no rate discounts for now, until the company determines whether the program reduces insurance claims.

Recently, AIG announced it would offer tracking devices in six states. In the Midwest, American Family Insurance offers DriveCam, to capture video images inside the car, before and after a sudden stop or acceleration. Pemco Insurance said this week it is looking at possible applications.

Among skeptics is Matthew Lee, driver-education instructor at West Seattle High School.

“If the knuckleheads at Safeco actually believe it’s going to open up conversations, it’s an accusational kind of conversation,” he said.

What does work, Lee said, is for parents to share their experience, by riding with their drivers-in-training.