Texting while driving is already banned in most states and if there is anything else to do in a car while driving, it should be banned as well. Many accidents happen, more now than ever when it comes to drivers not paying much attention to the road while they are in a car. Reaching for the radio or glove box used to be a pretty big no-no, but now that smartphones play music, beep, zing and vibrate your phone to get your attention, more people are getting used to driving while using their smartphones. A couple of companies have decided it was about time to jump on the band wagon against inattentive driving and have come up with apps that make it harder to be distracted while driving.
Sprint is one of the companies that have taken this issue with a head’s on approach. The company recently created an app that is called Sprint Drive First. This mobile app has a free 15-day trial and then will cost you just $2 per month for each phone. The app is for Android powered phones and senses when the phone is going more than 10 miles per hour and puts a hold on all texts, calls, emails and any other phone action. Texts and calls are automatically put to your voicemail to listen to later.
AT&T is another company that is joining the fight against this serious issue and has come up with an app call DriveMode. This app must actually be turned on before getting into the vehicle and when activated will send a reply to all of the texts, emails and calls to your smartphone. The message can be customized and the app is free of charge, but AT&T will charge for each message that is sent out.
T-Mobile is also on board with a cool app called, “Drive Safe. Drive Smart!” and it helps teen drivers enjoy their new freedom the right way. The app costs $4.99 per month and lets users manage driving distractions from the phone. There isn’t much other information regarding the mobile app from T-Mobile, but you can check the website to get updates. Right now, Verizon is the only company that has not developed a mobile app yet, but it might have more to do with the apps already available, than the company not caring.
December 5, 2011 at 3:07 pm
There is a free app called Teen Check-In that notifies parents when teens are texting and driving. Seems better than policing them/shutting the phone down, sometimes during an emergency you need access so that’s not practical anyway. I think teencheckin.com.