Technology That Can Help Avoid Texting While Driving

Automobile accidents occur every single day, for a range of reasons; but across the U.S, texting while driving is one of the major reasons for crashes. Unfortunately, it’s not just teens that are addicted to their cell phones; an increasing number of adults are also now having trouble focusing on the road, and compulsively look at their cell phones.

Avoid the Phone

It’s a fact that staying off the phone can be very difficult and when you hear the constant buzz or ring of a call or a message notification, you are inclined to pick up the cell phone. And when you do this you are taking your eyes off the road, creating a dangerous distraction when driving. Here are a few tips to help you avoid texting and driving:

• Turn your phone on "silent"
• Completely turn the cell phone off
• Put the cell out of reach (i.e. in the glove box or trunk)

All of these methods are effective in keeping you away from your cell phone and you will have to find out which one works best for you.

Technology to the Rescue

Today, even technology can be used to prevent you from texting and driving:

• Parents can use apps to monitor speed and texting while their teenage kids are in the car. Text & email alerts can be sent to the parents if their teen is texting while in a moving car or if they are speeding
• Wearable reminders like thumb bands or wrist bands that have anti-texting and driving messages can be used to remind them of all the dangers associated with texting and driving

New Technology on the Horizon

Now companies like Apple are also doing their bit to help the anti-text and drive brigade spread its message. It’s slated to launch some new technology that detects the driver’s motion and analyze the surrounding scenery. The motion-detector will use onboard sensors to tell if the vehicle is moving beyond a set speed.

The scenery-analyzer will then use the cell phone’s camera to determine if the driver is holding that phone. If a red flag goes up, a lock-out mechanism will automatically disable texting and other functions of that phone. In another scenario, the car’s ignition will be able to send out a signal to the driver’s cell phone to disable not just texting but other features too.