Technology Aimed at Stopping Distracted Driving

It happens all the time - you're driving along and notice the driver in the vehicle next to you is clearly distracted because they are texting or talking on their cell phone.  Over 5,000 people were killed and approximately half a million people were injured in 2009 in wrecks that were reported to have involved distracted driving according to the Fatality Analysis and General Estimates Systems.

To make matters worse, new vehicles are loaded with the latest and greatest technology that increases the likelihood of driver distraction, for example, navigation systems that allow drivers to do things like update their Facebook status! However, some vehicle manufacturers are addressing the serious problem of distracted driving with technology that actually helps to prevent it like built-in hands-free phone systems that allow only voice commands when making and receiving calls and block incoming texts and calls while a vehicle is moving.

Cell phone companies are also starting to do their part in helping to decrease the incidence of distracted driving. For instance, T-Mobile and Location Labs have introduced Drive Smart Plus, a smartphone application that can assist users or parents of teen drivers to stop texting and talking on a cell phone while driving. The app uses GPS technology to detect when a car is in motion and then blocks texts and disables the user's ability to make or receive calls. The feature can be overridden in an emergency situation, however, when the feature is bypassed for any reason, a message is sent to a parent's phone or email.

Unfortunately, technology alone cannot solve the huge and growing problem of distracted driving. It is up to each of us to take responsibility while driving and have the will power to focus on just the task at hand. It can be the difference between life and death.