Distracted Driving: The Problems and Solutions for Safer Roads

In our era where technology has taken over our everyday lifestyle, it has resulted in different problems we were never faced with in the past. Distracting driving has always been a problem but has recently taken off due to the abundance of mobile devices. Drivers who engage in text messaging on a cellular phone are 23 times more likely to be involved in a near crash or crash event compared with non-distracted drivers. As a result, distracted driving now accounts for over 4 million motor vehicle crashes across North America. Ontario has since recognized the severity of this problem and since September 1st 2015, have increased the penalty to a possible 1000$ fine.

Technology has had a huge role for ensuring safety across our roads. Every car now has built-in hands free technology, and along with other key features, this is just a few ways the auto industry has used technology to limit distracted drivers. In the app world, there are great number of different apps for your mobile devices that look to reduce the number of distracted drivers on the road.

Cell Control

• Designed for parents, subscription based
• Blocks your teen from having the ability to send or receive text messages
• When car is in motion, disables all phone features like the camera, email, or any other apps
• For Android and iOS​

Drive Safe Mode

• Also designed with parents in mind
• Prevents texting and emailing while driving
• Can notify parents when phone is in use and if the driver shuts off the app while on the road
• Easy signup
• For Android and iOS

Live2Txt

• Lets you block incoming texts and calls while driving
• When app turned on, you’ll silence your smartphone from incoming notifications, texts and calls.
• If a message is received, the app will send an auto rely customized message that you’re unable to respond at the moment.
• For Android

Safe Drive

• Rewards you points for not texting while driving.
• Open app before travelling and it will start rewarding you with points you can use toward discounts at participating stores
• Points are based on driving speed, time spent in traffic, and distance traveled.
• For Android and iOS

DriveMode

• Takes text messages are turns them into audio.
• The “no-look” interface stops any app from usage, and
• Break your phone down into various functions: Music, Calls, Apps, Destinations and Messages.
• For Android

Drivesafe.ly

• One Tap operation, and auto-on functionality.
• Announces callers by name, reads text messages and emails aloud
• Set up customized auto-response for text messages
• For Android