How many of you are guilty of using your cell phone as you drive? In this day in age, turning your cell phone off before driving or ignoring phone calls is something that very few actually do. Not only is talking on your cell phone while driving illegal but it’s also a huge distraction. Several states, including New York and California, have introduced laws against talking on a cell phone while driving, but they still allow the use of hands-free devices like Bluetooth headsets. In reality, it appears that it is the distraction of dialing or talking that is dangerous, rather than the act of taking a hand off the wheel. A study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in 2006 found that dialing or talking on the phone was the cause in 7 percent of crashes and near-crashes. In addition, last year alone, 41,059 people died in traffic accidents. Thankfully an answer is here. Aegis Mobility, a Canadian software company, has developed software called DriveAssistT that will detect whether a cell phone is moving at car speeds. When that happens, the software will alert the cellular network, telling it to hold calls and text messages until the drive is over. But the software doesn't completely block incoming calls. Callers will hear a message saying the person they're calling appears to be driving. They can hit a button to leave an emergency voice mail, which is put through immediately.
Aegis' software will work on phones with Windows Mobile software, popular for "smart" phones, or Symbian software, used in phones from Nokia and Sony Ericsson. It uses the phone's Global Positioning System chip to detect motion, aided by the cell-tower signal. To work, the software has to be supported by the cellular carrier. Aegis hopes to be able to announce early next year that the software is available through a carrier, probably for $10 to $20 per month for a family. The software can be managed remotely through a Web site. For instance, parents will get alerts if their kids override the motion-sensing feature to indicate that they're riding in car rather than driving. A corporation that buys the software for their employees can do the same.
I personally think this is a great innovation in cell phone use. I know I’m guilty of talking on the phone while driving, and this eliminates the problem. I also like the fact that if there is an emergency, then the call has the ability to go through. One of my close family members got into a car accident because of cell phone use, and if Aegis’ software was around then, it could have easily been prevented. I wonder how accessible this new software will be in America during the near future and how many carriers would be interested in it. Also, I wonder if this will eventually become standard in all cell phones. Not only does it promote less distractions while driving but it also promotes following the law. Lastly, I find it funny that this new software was developed in Canada. This is such a big problem in America, with the endless amount of cars and cell phones, that I was shocked it was not put into development here in the States. Hopefully, DriveAssistT will become apart of our everyday lives in the near future and will save the lives of many.
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Yes, talking on a cell phone while driving can be dangerous however I think that this type of software is very invasive and I definitely never use it. In New York there are very strict rules and i know lots of people who have received a ticket because they were talking on their cell phones. I think that this is related to using a hand held device and not due to the fact that this person was on the phone. This is a matter where people need to take responsibility into their own hands and if you are easily distracted by phone calls you should not pick up. Blue tooth is very effective and now more and more cars are coming with this feature built in. I have this in my car and I don't even need to have my phone near me to call someone. I simply hit a button and tell it who I want to call. In regards to making this feature available for adults to monitor their children this just gives kids something else they will figure out how to get around. I see how this feature can be perceived as a good thing and if it helps prevent accidents then I am all for it. However I personally would never use this. I have a cell phone so I can make calls when I need to and when I am driving from Baltimore to New York I use that time to catch up with people I haven't spoke to in a while. It would be so annoying never to use your phone while in the car. As long as it is done safely of course.
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