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This feeds real time information about his driving via email, a website or your mobile phone using kits that cost up to £260. It will even sound a warning at home if the car's driven recklessly.

And then later, a card can be removed from the onboard black box which lets parents see just how fast 'junior' was going during his journey.

Now obviously, he's going to be damn glad you bought him a car. He's going to love you for that. But how long do you think that gratefulness will last if his engine dies every time he puts his foot down? And how deep into your chest will he plunge a carving knife if, when he gets home, you remove the card and explain that his gearchanging was a little sloppy.

There's another, more worrying issue too. Because the technology already exists to monitor every car on the road, I'm amazed His Toniness hasn't got involved. He's already decided we all need ID cards so he can monitor our pupil dilation and I bet he would just love to be able to keep tabs on us in our cars too.

The only thing stopping him is a fear of the public backlash. But if lots of parents demonstrate they like the idea, he'll introduce it like a shot. And then get his Health and Safety Nazis to send us fines every time we do 31mph.

So, let me give you a very good reason why you should not fit your kid's car with a spy in the cab.