There’s no doubt that distracted driving is dangerous. In 2015, nearly 3,500 people were killed and another 391,000 were injured in accidents involving distracted driving. Many states have established laws prohibiting the use of cell phones while behind the wheel, but even this has not been enough to put an end to distracted driving. Now, developers are taking matters into their own hands by creating apps that are designed to prevent this dangerous behavior. Could one of these apps stop distracted driving?
LifeSaver
The LifeSaver app will automatically detect driving and block drivers’ access to their phones while they are behind the wheel. Drivers will still be able to make phone calls, which is helpful for drivers who find themselves in an emergency situation. In addition to blocking the driver from his phone, this app also silences all notifications so the driver is not distracted by the sound or vibration of an incoming message. However, many critics say this app is not enough to prevent distracted driving because people can easily turn off the “safe driving” feature to regain access to their phones.
DriveSafe.ly
DriveSafe.ly is a free app that will read your incoming text messages and emails aloud to you so you do not have to take your eyes off of the road to do so. You can also use this app to set responses that will be automatically sent to anyone who texts or emails while you are driving.
Cell Control
Cell Control is an app that is designed with families in mind. Parents can set up a Cell Control account and connect all of their kids’ phones to the main account. Then, parents can establish policies for each phone connected to the account. For example, parents can choose which (if any) apps and features they want their kids to be able to access while they are driving. Unlike other apps, Cell Control does not give teens the power to disable the protections in order to regain access to their phone while behind the wheel. As long as driving is detected, Cell Control will not allow the teen to access anything besides the emergency phone feature.
These apps may reduce the number of drivers who are distracted by their cell phones, but they are not enough to completely eliminate the problem of distracted driving.
Have you been injured by a distracted driver? If so, seek legal representation from the personal injury attorneys at Reisch Law Firm as soon as possible. Victims may be able to recover compensation for their medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more. Schedule a free consultation today by calling 303-291-0555 or filling out this online form.
